Madamoiselle Sandra

When King David was old and cold they brought him a Shunamite Young Pretty to try to get him going. They shoulda brought him a cardiologist, instead. Scripture reports that he didn't "know" (wink) her and not too long after joined Jesse in eternal rest.

I'm one of something like 50,000,000 people on the Atlantic Coast of the USA who are in Miss Sandy's sights .... a Hurricane the meteorologists (some of whom are rather attractive Shunamites, themselves) describe as a unique and potentially disastrous storm. It has already killed in the Carribean and seems likely to kill many in its path.

I don't know how many millions of the 50 million are Players in the Last Quarter ... but many. It is my first storm that has frightened me thinking about my inability to respond ... Late Middle Age brings "irresponsibility" .... an inability to respond as one did once upon a time.

In 1993 at 305 on September 28 a tornado picked up a Beech Tree and moved it vertically from another's property maybe hundreds or more yards away through the roof of my office where it stood vertically ... damaged but still tree-like. By the time the insurance adjusters came to assess the damage that 40+ feet of debris left, I and my trusty chain saw had spent a week removing essentially all the debris. No more.

Nineteen years older, it's a non-starter. Yesterday, I needed to install a pump in the basement and do some other light-duty stuff with moving my 1996 car into a garage, etc. and this morning I'm on heavy-duty analgesics struggling to lift my leg high enough to put on my pants. I included many months ago a bit of doggerel about an old set of wing-tip shoes in the closet and my sense that aging has its way with us ... turns us from vigorous worker to lore ....  This morning, it's there looking me in the face.

The Good Brother Thomas Merton, in one oif his many prayers, wrote: My Lord God, I have no idea where I'm going, I do not see the road ahead of me.

Brother Thomas, wherever you are, let me add: and Dear God, I have no idea what your emissary, Frau Sandy, has in mind for me and the other 49,999,999 dwellers of this East Coast. How many feet, dear God, will accumulate in my basement? Will that Willow Tree that sits over my office join it and crush my library? How many of my brothers and sisters will be caught in her wrath? My Lord God, if you've tired of listening to the distortions of politicians and their bull-pucky, give a look over to those of us struggling the World-over and maybe just a moment towards we the fortunate who have been blessed to live long years in a protected and privileged country!

And to whomever is listening? Stay safe.

If you have nothing better to do, 50 million friends, check out the myth of the Kikayon, of the gourd, in the Book of Jonah .... it's got all the elements ...

and stay safe!