Hurricane Sandy: An Experience in Absentia

Maddie and Ollie, some many years from now, you may ask your mom and dad, "Why don't we remember Hurrican Sandy? We lived in New Jersey in the fall of 2012!" And we will have to remind you... we spent the entire storm and the weeks that followed it in Maine, untouched by even a whisper of the hardships that had smashed all semblance of normal life in NJ. Yes, like all of the east coast, we had very heavy winds and rain on Monday night and Tuesday, but around us here, there was virtually no damage at all, and no power outage. So we carried on as usual after that, while nearly 100% of northern New Jersey was out of power, and trees had smashed people's houses, and school was cancelled for over a week - even Halloween was cancelled! We are still here in Maine, more than a week later, and our house in NJ is still without power. We won't be headed home until we get power back. It is unfathomable, the devestation that so many are experiencing: lost lives, lost homes, lost businesses. We have lost nothing but a lot of frozen meats and Maine shrimp... not a lot to complain about, that's for sure. And through all of this crazy time, you have been surrounded by all four of your loving grandparents; just today Grandma Carole and Granddad Maurice flew home to England after a wonderful 2 1/2 week visit. Their last night was spent with Daddy in our cold, darkened house on Alexandra Road -- just a taste of what the entire week has been like for the rest of New Jersey. We had a wonderful birthday celebration for you on Saturday, Ollie (your favorite present was your "big boy" camera!), and right now you are sleeping upstairs, your very last night as a five-year-old. I hope that if life continues to blanket you with blessings rather than hardships, you grow up with a heart that is caring, mindful, and generous in every way, and that you help others when you are able.