Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Dearest Readers:

While I sit here listening to news reports about Hurricane Florence and the evacuation I feel confident we will stay here, comfortable inside our home. We’ve done this for many years whenever a “hurricane is a-coming,” and I feel safe here. Our home is brick. We live less than ten miles from the beach, but I’m certain there is no place like home!

I’ve had several friends calling today seeing what our plans are, so rest assured, all of you, I will keep you all informed! I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow to find out what can be done about my wrist, with exception of surgery. Suppose I should call the office tomorrow morning just to make certain they will be opened.

Many of my friends suggested we leave. My reply is a funny, You’ve never been in a hurricane before, have you? Never fought traffic on Highway 41 for over ten hours (at that time Highway 41 was not a major road, and to make it worse, there were no service stations to stop at to find a ladies room) It took us ten hours to move 57 miles!

Two cars ahead of us was an RV. By now, people were getting out of their cars, knocking on the RV’s door, in hopes they could use their facilities. Several boys and men were walking into the woods. Not me, I prayed that soon traffic would move and we would find a place. 

Exhausted, we saw a motel.

Phil was still recovering from major heart surgery at that time. We were in two cars, anticipating cell service. News Flash! All the cell phone towers were jammed. We could not use our cell phones, so we tried walkie talkies. Phil wanted to stop at the motel to get a room since we were so exhausted! Not seeing the motel, I agreed.

Finally, in a room, I rushed to the ladies room to release a most painful bladder. Opening the door of the bathroom, I looked around this room. Oh my. This isn’t the style of motel I’m accustomed to staying at. Yes. I’m slightly spoiled. I enjoy really nice hotel rooms, and this one reminded me more of a ————–! Use your imagination!

The motel room smelled musty. The bedspreads felt sticky, and when I walked on the floor barefoot, my feet wanted to stick to the floor. Disgusting. Exhausted, I went to the car, got one of my pillows, uncovered the bed linens and fell asleep. The next morning, we chose to return home. We drove 57 miles in less than an hour. No traffic! Mt. Pleasant, SC was a ghost town. The storm had turned. All was fine!

After that experience, we decided evacuating just isn’t worth the time. Rest assured, I will keep all informed. Just stay tuned to my next post as we listen to the latest news. Maybe I’ll pop some popcorn. Oops. Didn’t buy any.

Oh well. Life goes on!