A NEW MAN IN MY LIFE
Imagine my surprise to find him waiting for me
this morning. I’ve heard whispers of his name. Yes, he has been on the
television. But, I had no idea he was visiting my area. You know what they say,
it always happens when you least expect it.
With sleep in my eyes, wearing a
baby-doll-nightgown, I shuffle out the front door to feed the yard dogs.
Bending over to scoop kibble into three large
mixing bowls that serve as dog dishes, I hear a sound. Slowly tilting my head right and then left.
What am I hearing?
It’s a
rushing sound. No… more like a blazing coal furnace with the door open or maybe
the Blue Angels are practicing.
A rush of adrenaline hits me. Sweat gathers
under my breast and drips down my belly.
It’s Ike!
I can hear him pounding the surf just like placing a seashell to my ear.
I’ve got to be wrong. Hurricane Ike’s landfall
is
Dashing into my bungalow, I quickly toss on a
tank top and shorts, trotting across the narrow strip of asphalt to the water.
The sky is streaked with gloomy bloated clouds while skinny pine trees party in
the gusty-winds. Ike is pushing and shoving tepid brackish bathwater up over
red clay roads depositing pine-straw as tidewater markers. Break-away-docks and plastic lawn furniture
practice the backstroke and then slowly sink. Splashing whitecaps foam in the
mouth of
Sprinting back to the house, I head out for
Winn-Dixie to stockpile water, batteries and junk food.
It was
only twelve days ago Gustav blew in my back door. Now I have this unexpected visitor lapping at
my gate.
Hey ake a hike Ike. You’re not my type.
