Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Dearest Readers:

This morning is day four of anticipation of a hurricane. Last night, we had light rain. Looking outside by my windows, I see the wind gusting slightly, giving us a slight tease of how the winds will gust.

I haven’t listened to the latest updates. Last night Florence was only a Category Two hurricane. Now, the trees are not dancing their wind ballet. Just a slight tease, fluttering their branches only slightly. I must get my Boston ferns inside, along with the table and plants I have on my tiny (and I do mean tiny) front porch. I do not wish for anything to become a projectile.

Earlier, while brewing coffee, I saw a neighbor driving by in his golf cart. Many of our neighbors have stayed. The reversal of I-26 is scheduled to end at 6pm tonight, unless things have changed.

That’s what is interesting about hurricanes. With computer technology they are able to follow the spaghetti like graphics to predict where she will go; nevertheless, hurricanes have their ‘own mind’ and they will target where they want to go. If it targets Charleston, it will not have the traffic jams or lines to wait in. Florence will simply blow in, teasing us. Choosing to stay alike, just like some tour-ons! She will drop lots of rain. We’ve had rain before. Doesn’t anyone remember the “Hundred Year Rains,” in October, 2015? I certainly do! The wind and hail poured into a portion of our home. I stayed up for at least 36 hours placing buckets, beach towels and fans to get the waters up. I shall never forget that rain storm and the oh so wonderful(?) insurance adjustor for State Farm telling us “You’re not covered!” We had a homeowner’s policy and the Wind and Hail insurance but we were not covered?

I looked at him asking him why we were not covered. His reply: “The regulations recently changed…”

Trust me, Mister…my insurance company will change!

Way to go, State Farm.

The wind has returned now. Breezing. Cool. Dancing a beautiful ballet, especially from the two pine trees I planted from seedlings after Hugo. Will I lose trees this time? Will my home survive?

I believe all will be fine. Just got a weather alert from AccuWeather: “Hurricane Florence on the doorstep of the Southeast. Follow the storm and updates from AccuWeather.”

I get these weather alerts from all local stations, the Weather Channel and AccuWeather, so now I suppose, I’m covered!

More details later. Stay tuned! Think I need another cup of coffee!