The wind chimes have been removed over night because of the lovely sound became and irritable noise, the sun hanging on the deck wall has been knocked down a couple of time, chairs have moved from one side to the other on the deck like on a weird barn dance. The entrance to the Westport River has been much quieter in the last few days, just a couple of boats yeaterday and much less today, not the high traffic we usually see at this time of the year. The water is warm and the wind is actually nice after a couple of muggy suffocating days The surf is high and the usually quiet view I enjoy from the deck has become a much busier one, with waves that are usually not here. I see the waves at Horseneck Beach Gooseberry Island and Cherry and Webb and surfers are flocking into is like bees to an open pot of sweet honey. The same scenario is seen at Elephant Rock where the waves are getting bigger and bigger by the hour. These are just few easy and clear signs that something is stirring up somewhere and we are just getting few signs here and there. Some of these facts are great news for surfers and other radical water sports lovers, but how about the rest of us? What does Hurricane Irene means if, in fact, she decides to make an unexpected visit on Sunday?
For me it's a brand new thing. See I've moved to Westport about two and a half years ago, this is the first time I see a 'big' hurricane. I've lived in Boston, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, I come from Brasil, where fortunate for it's population, we don't have hurricanes nor earthquakes. So at this point I have mixed emotions about Irene. While the beauty of the ocean, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and the voice of the ocean makes me happy as a child on the first day of vacation, the other side worries a little about it, since I have no idea on what to expect or how to prepare.
Last week we were talking ( a friend and I) about the Hurricane of 1938, which left ruins of a house right on the beach next to where I live, and I've been reading The Last Fling about Hurricane Carol in 1954
Off course I experienced Earl lin 2011,and have seen the destruction Katrina has caused. I am aware of the incredible damages it can cause. But for me, as a newbie, I have to confess Earl was something beautiful to see; the way the waves crashed on the rocks, the roaring sound; it felt like Buzzards Bay was speaking and speaking about something serious. I walked down to Elephant Rock and enjoyed the strength of the winds and the beauty of it all. However they are now saying that Hurricane Irene is supposed to be much stronger, the strongest in the last 20 years so I hear on the news. I also know that 'the news' love all the sensationalistic side of everything, which I believe to be a dis-service to communities, since we can never say if this time is real or just another boy ''crying wolves' again.
In any case, my next door neighbor, knowing that I am a complete ignoramus in reference to hurricanes, came by to remind me to save some fresh water, empty my deck of chairs, decorations and etc, and get some dry food and a flash light since we might loose electricity. Like most of Westport, everything here depends on electricity: septic, stove, fridge, water pump, phone etc. So I will be heading out to Lee's Market 
tomorrow to get some first necessities. We also have an evacuation plan and if things comes to worst we are all are going to the Acoaxet House to ride the storm, which is a relief since I have no basement to hide and even if I had the idea of being there by myself or driving out with high winds and flooding (in an area surrounded by water) with new moon to make the hight tide even higher doesn't entice me much. Granted I have my Kayak and life vest handy just in case.
I'm pretty sure you've watched as many news as I have with survivors of natural disasters, they all mention the same, besides the fact that they are glad to be alive, the one thing that they miss the most are not their big possessions, but pictures, pictures that has captured precious memories and moments of their lives, family and children. For that I am glad that I took the time, a couple of weeks ago, to scan the majority of them and save it online, so my family here, in Brasil and all over the world can share those precious moments with me.
I really hope that Irene just pass us by and follow her path, but just in case I'll follow some of the basic recommendations.Then it will be time to enjoy the Sunset Summer series at Westport Rivers Winery and I might take a trip to East Beach on Saturday and walk around Goosebery Island , if the causeway is open, to check the waves closely and take some pictures as well.
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