Come walk with me for a while and let me share two named storms I had the not so pleasant privilege of getting to know. The first one was called "Bob".
Bob came along in 1985 when my daughter was fifteen years old. We had planned a vacation together at North Myrtle Beach with my good friend who also had a daughter the same age, and a condo to stay in. We were excited and looking forward to some good beach time. We arrived early in the week, and my friend and her daughter were to arrive later in the week.
Unfortunately, on the day that they were to arrive, we received the news that an expected hurricane by the name of Bob had appeared on the radar as a category 3 hurricane and it was due to be on top of us that evening. Of course, I panicked and wanted to leave the beach immediately and head inland. My daughter and I began to pack our things, clean the condo and prepare for the long ride home. I went downstairs to explain to the receiving desk that I would be leaving, but another renter would be arriving. Of course, there were no cell phones in 1985, and no way to get in touch with my friend who was on her way.
The man at the reception desk explained to me that leaving would be a big mistake! He said the building we were in (six stories tall) was the safest building on the beach. He further explained that it was fairly new and was built with safety precautions against high winds. He also reminded me that the major access roads out of the beach area would be packed with campers and other cars. He emphasized that I would be putting myself in danger if I left!
That was when he softened his voice, looked me dead in the eye and said that the best thing I could do would be to go to the bar down the hall and order a large strawberry daiquiri and try to relax! Well, I decided to do exactly what he recommended, and with my drink in hand was welcomed by a group across the hall playing bingo. They invited me to join them. They were having a hurricane party!
Julia was still upstairs in our room, frantically cleaning and packing our things. You can imagine her surprise when I finally returned to our room and told her we were going to stay and ride out the storm. We watched the weather report on television, and Julia kept her eyes glued on the view of the trees beginning to blow in the wind through the sliding glass door. Around ten o'clock I decided to take the one anti-depressant my sister had given me for emergency use only. I fell sound to sleep, leaving Julia to keep a lookout.
The next morning, I lazily awoke to my daughter's story about her night with the hurricane! She said that while I was asleep, the hallway was filled with the other residents who chose to seek shelter in the hallway away from the windows in the condos. She told me that the walls shook, and the wind was very loud! I looked out the large patio door to the balcony and saw that the fence around the pool and tennis courts were bent and crumpled to the ground. A further inspection of the damage showed all the outside chairs were floating in the pool!
Later that morning, my friend arrived and shared a harrowing tale of having to spend the night in a "shady" motel. She was awake the entire night listening to the howling wind and praying the windows would not blow out!
Fortunately, no one was injured and we were able to enjoy the remainder of the week in the condo by the beach! The locals quicky printed "I Survived Bob" t-shirts and sold them the rest of the summer.
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