By Sharon Zukin
Everyone knows by now that Tropical Storm Irene, which blew through the East Coast last weekend, flooded the beaches, suburbs and some inland towns but did little lasting damage in New York City. I have seldom felt so lucky to live on a high floor with no river view and on a street with very few trees.
Summer is winding down. My big kid is back in school (2nd grade!!!) and my Tiny Human starts pre-k next week, so I am back in writing mode! Of course, writing mode never truly stops, but my blog hiatus has been long enough. I've missed you all.
You'd think after taking about a month off that I'd have something awesome to blog about, but alas, I do not. I could ramble on about my mandatory evacuation, thanks to Hurricane Irene, that turned into a party with my folks out in the sticks, but you don't want to hear about that.
*whispers* Husband is no longer a tattoo virgin.
But I want to hear about you! How was your summer? Did you get a lot of writing done, or are you a total summer slacker? Did you attend Write On Con? My super awesome agent, Sara Megibow, was a guest during one or more of the chats! What have I missed in the blogosphere?!
Yesterday, while 65 million people were reminded that they were in the path of Irene, this terrible storm, we drove north with our son toward his final year of school—past dairy farms and winding creeks, silos, horses, backpackers. It was an eerie lull, and despite utterly clear skies and bright light, the tension—at the rest stop, on the roads—was palpable. Move-in was easy; we are veterans by now. Our son has three terrific roommates and a full slate of fascinating-sounding classes and producer work at the school's TV station. Saying good-bye is never easy, but by 8 P.M., we were making the long way home.
The roads were jammed. The traffic that you on the west coast have read of was real. I woke this morning at dawn to screen images of Irene's wrath but not a drop of rain here, only that warning: it will come.
I have done nothing to prepare for this storm. Am out of gas, money, and food, and the deck chairs still sit right out there, on the deck. I'm off now to do those things I should have yesterday done, and then to drive the half hour down the road, in the early moments of the storm, to join those authors who can come for the PAYA festival, a PA library fundraiser beginning at 11 AM at 1585 Paoli Road, on which Skyanne has worked so hard. I'll be home by two, and then I'm battening those hatches down. I've got a friend's book-in-progress to read,
The Bird House and
The Buddha in the Attic on the iPad, 3,000 words left to write of my own novel. I am sending love and prayers to all those whose lives will be changed by Miss Irene. Sending hope out to my country.
I will be back if the power stays on, and if it doesn't, I'll be back after that.
By: Lauren,
on 9/1/2011
By: Kristi Helvig,
on 9/1/2011
By: Beth Kephart ,
on 8/27/2011
A lot of people were on blogging hiatus during the summer, I can't wait to have them all back! It's been lonely around here. :(
Sounds like you had a great summer. :) Awesome! And I'm glad you're safe after hurricane Irene. Welcome back!
Thanks, Bethany!!
My block had worse flooding three weeks before Irene, but there were areas of NYC that were under a lot of water. Cars were submerged to their rooftops! We were very fortunate. Just a few fallen tree branches. :)
Glad to be back!
As you know, I also have a 2nd grader and one in pre-k. Unfortunately, she begged me to homeschool her this year so I have NO writing time during the day. :(
I'm so glad you guys were okay during the hurricane. I was just on the Outer Banks for a wedding, and my brother told me that where I stayed is now 4 feet underwater. Crazy.