AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.
KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.
Dear Reader,
What is it that I'm feeling right now? Sad. Tears well up when I least expect them. Raking the debris in our yard, I'm raking and crying, I tell myself it's a good thing--I'm probably saving money on therapy.
I've been through other hurricanes here in Florida. One year, 2004, we had four hurricanes so close together, my husband and I didn't even take all the boards off the windows of our house, because we knew another storm was on the way. But this hurricane, knowing it was a Category 5, and still vividly recalling the pictures of the Texas, Harvey aftermath, it was going to take more convincing than usual to make myself believe I wasn't afraid that Irma was headed our way. I really wanted to believe that because we'd been through hurricanes before, we'd make it through this one fine, too.
But when I found myself telling my son I loved him, and reminding him where our will and insurance policy papers were, I realized I was kidding myself. I was scared. I was frightened. Being in a voluntary evacuation zone, my husband and I made the tough decision to stay in our home, so we took some shelves out of a small closet and stocked it to be our own hurricane shelter. Our five cats would be next door in the bathroom. We were ready to hunker down, up until the last day of possible evacuation, but with the hurricane path projection moving closer and closer to our location, that's when I caved. "I can't do it. Let's go to a shelter," I told my husband.
After something happens I feel I should simply move on to the next thing in life, but it was a long, stressful week of preparing, and internalizing the reality that Hurricane Irma was coming. Then making the decision to flee to a shelter, and after the storm, on the drive home wondering if our house would still be there, or would it be flooded. And then seeing the house was standing and no water in sight, I was relieved and thankful, but felt guilty at the same time.
Our yard was filled with debris, there wasn't any electricity, so we started the generator, and worked on cleaning up and getting back to a sense of normal. For me it's not the event, it's the anticipation of what might, of what could happen, that wears me down. And it's been a long, emotional journey, so I think this time I'll go easy on myself and continue to rake and cry--when needed--and simply wait until my heart feels ready to move on.
The recovery journey is still going on for so many. Please keep them in your heart and prayers.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Don't be shy if you aren't a writer. I started the contest thirteen years ago, especially for people who've never written. So give it a go this year. The who, what, where, why--and cash prizes can all be found here.
Gratefully,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
AUTHORBUZZ
VICTORIA (Fiction) by Daisy Goodwin
I love that our PBS Victoria series is so popular in the U.S., and it was great fun writing the novel. I pored through Victoria's
diaries, and I think the events of her younger years make for a captivating story. So excited it's coming out in paperback, and I hope you love it.
Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on VICTORIA to read more and to email author Daisy Goodwin, you'll get a reply.
* * *
KIDS BUZZ: Two compelling and hilarious new reads for middle-graders: find out what happens when a kid decides to take a stand against sitting down in ETHAN MARCUS STANDS UP by Michele Weber Hurwitz; and THE PRINCIPAL'S UNDERWEAR IS MISSING by Holly Kowitt, a funny, cartoon-packed story of two very different girls thrown together accidentally. For a chance to win a free copy of these fabulous books and learn more, click here.
* * *
* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE WOMAN WHO HAD TWO NAVELS AND TALES OF THE TROPICAL GOTHIC, by Nick Joaquin. Click the link below to start reading, and be sure to enter the drawing for your chance to win a Penguin tote bag, click here.
Comments