It was a joyous day on Sunday, when we all came out of our houses to assess the damage that wasn't.  I had fallen asleep to some scary wind gusts that occasionally bent the 120 foot trees in my neighbors' backyard much more than I liked.  When I woke up in the morning I instantly noticed the humming of the AC--we still had power!  Outside, the air was fresh and clean. 

My parents--visiting from Berlin--didn't understand a thing that was going on, neither the three-day hype before nor our fears when the winds arrived or the relief when they had passed, and even less so the fact that more than 200,000 households in the DC area were still without power the next day.  To illustrate what could have been, I showed them pictures I took in my neighborhood after a bad storm last summer.

I have long given up trying to explain to them what I have been struggling to understand myself: things like the overhead power lines or the fact that houses are seen more as temporary structures in this country where few people expect the next five generations of their children and grandchildren to live in the same place.

There are great advantages to this mobility, constant flow and freedom.  But -- just like many other aspects of freedom -- there's a price as well.  That price is vulnerability. 

I'm glad we didn't have to pay it this weekend.  I know that once more, many others weren't so lucky, and I hope for all of them that they will be able to rebuild and recover quickly.

© 2012, Catarina Bannier 

www.BannierHomes.com

www.DCHouseCat.com

www.DCHouseSmarts.com

     

 

6 Comments on Faster, Less Expensive, Less Permanent

AUG
30
2011
569,544 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Caterina,  I heard some folks complaining about what they thought was over hyping by the media.  I suppose if it were the other way around they would be complaining that the media didn't do their job !  Glad things went well for you !
1:00pm • #1
1 Featured Post

Hello Catarina,  I am glad you made it through and everything turned out ok : )
1:03pm • #2
146,602 Points 1 Featured Post Attended Rain Camp

Hello Catrina, You are very furtunate. I  have read those post about people complaining about the hype as well.
1:05pm • #3
166,654 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Catarina I am so glad you were spared. I’m impressed that you could sleep through the wind.
2:51pm • #4
148,945 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

Hi Bill--you're so right! As a former member of the media I can assure you, they can never get it right for everyone.  (But neither can the metereologists. :-) ) 

Amy, thanks so much--it's really a relief!

Krista--in my book, better the hype than the blizzard that was announced as "light flurries."  (Had that happen, here, too.)
5:13pm • #5
148,945 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

Thanks, David!  Actually, it was 2 am by the time i went to sleep, so the exhaustion won out!  My 14-year old was still up--I think he was afraid to be in his corner bedroom upstairs.
5:38pm • #6


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