Our Own Type Of Hurricane

 

Those of us in Eastern North Carolina know about hurricanes. Almost all of us have experienced them, but those of us with grandchildren know a different kind of storm, one we welcome but also one that requires a few days of rest when it leaves the area.

A look around my house on a recent Sunday sparked my thoughts on this issue. My wife and I hosted our granddaughter as we do any time we get the chance, but a look around our home showed there were consequences.

Anyone who has grandchildren knows that two days of a grandchild in the house equals at least one day of house cleaning, picking up and restoring some kind of normalcy.

Like most hurricanes, this storm left a path of destruction. The family of Barbie and Ken lost almost everything. I found Barbie’s shoes in the tub drain. I found part of Ken’s hand tossed across the bathroom floor. The pair’s family pet was on his back, feet in the air with a confused look on his face.

Furniture from the Barbie and Ken house was scattered throughout our house, only to be discovered by a grampa stumbling around the house in the middle of the night. That is something a lot of us do as we approach the half-century mark.

Hard plastic bedroom furniture is a hazard to us in the grampa club. Just trust me, stepping on a miniature kitchen chair is not something one likes to repeat.

The kitchen of our house took a major hit from the storm. Carrots, celery and other items used in a joint project to make vegetable soup are probably still in some corners or on top of the stove. I am not sure a 5-year-old chopping celery would pass OSHA codes but when she uses those eyes on gramma it’s just not fair.

It works on grampas as well. The words “can I please” might gain her access to the nuclear codes if we had them. Her personal safety was not endangered so if she wants to cut celery, no harm done. Don’t judge us until you look into those eyes.

Signs of the hurricane still abound outside the home. Sand from the sand box is scattered about. Some of it was transported to far corners of the yard by the poor dog who wasn’t able to escape the turmoil completely, though she tried her best.

Sand box toys quickly became obstacles for my riding mower. Some of them probably won’t be found until next year when I bring the mower out for the first time. If not then, they will be found when they stick out of the one snow we receive in January of February.

All this to say that we welcome this storm any time at our house. There is an old saying that the two best things in the world to grandparents are headlights coming and tail lights leaving when grandchildren come to visit. I now understand those words even more and I look forward to seeing the headlights coming again. Next time we will just batten down the hatches a little better.

Tom Woerner is a reporter with The Daily Record. Reach him at (919) 607-3714 or woernertmw@yahoo.com