Tears & Laughter: I saw the light

Like many scattered across the Black Belt and West Alabama, I am just now emerging after Hurricane Zeta. Some people have forgotten Zeta even blew through. Others aren’t quite over it yet. 

Seven days without power will take its toll on a person’s patience. I shouldn’t complain, we have a generator and a gas stove. Many were not so fortunate. And it got cold. I now have a cold…from getting cold. I seriously doubt I am alone.

I kept a fairly upbeat attitude for the first three or four days. But by day seven I will admit that the mood had deteriorated. I – and this area – had been shut off from the world for days. So forgive me if I am a little out of touch and off-tone this week. I am torn between being grateful and feeling slighted. It is just the nature of the human. I apologize.

Zeta was no Ivan. The best I could make out from what I could see on my phone over the last several days – when I wasn’t pulling limbs or boiling water – Zeta seemed to be being described as worse than Ivan.

On our place alone after Ivan there were over 70 trees down. That was repeated time and time again from the coast to far north of Greenville. It was unbelievable the destruction. It took a long time just to clear roads. It changed the landscape. And I am not implying Zeta wasn’t strong. I was up watching it from window to window. It was intense. For the first time I felt like we really were all in it together. And if you had more destruction from Zeta than Ivan then certainly you may feel Zeta was worse. 

From that perspective, I could say that too. The top out of a huge sycamore tree damaged the roof on one wing of the house. The roof was fixed before the power was back. After Ivan power was back within six days. I do not understand how 16 years later, it took longer after less of a storm. But, again, thank you to all the power workers who did the job they are trained and generously paid to perform. I hope it was volunteer and they weren’t drafted like in war.

It is quiet after a hurricane.

Silent.

Until it is interrupted by power saws and generators.

I noticed things I don’t normally notice. Like the squirrels playing. They are funny little curious creatures. They jump and scurry and look. The storm left them with plenty of pecans to bury away for the winter. 

I saw kids outside playing. It seems it has been a long time since I had seen something so simple. 

The sky will tease you after a hurricane too. The same sky that wrecks your normal can cover you with serenity the next day. We were treated to beautiful early sunsets and a bright full moon.

I like squirrels, and playing children. I like a pretty sky. I like a full moon on dark, cold nights.

But Wednesday afternoon, when I stepped on my back patio and saw the light of a lamp through my living room window…it was love. 

Times like these are why I don’t camp.

I hope everyone who was in the path of Zeta is on their way to recovery. I hope all power has been restored. You may feel weak for now, but remember what stands after a storm…is strong.

Amanda Walker is a contributor with AL.com, The Selma Times Journal, Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, and Alabama Gazette. Contact her at Walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist.