Friday, July 2, 2010

Day 309 or Hurricane, Thy Name is Isabella

So you may have noticed that this week I have not fared so well with my promise to post daily. It has been one hurricane of a week. Now that Alex has proven to be a non-event for us Texans (I am sorry for those who have suffered in Central America), I feel I can vent a little about how this little hurricane has wreaked big havoc on my life.

My husband was not home a full two days before he was called to one city for this storm. A city away from his family. Two days later when we had made a plan to join in him in that city, he was sent to yet another city. This is confusing and frustrating for adults. It is hard for my steadfast six year old son. It has been out and out devastating to my daughter.

She does not understand any of it. What she knows is that she is now spending the better part of a third week away from her dad. She understands that the plans keep changing. She understands that her routine is gone, her life is in flux, and basically nothing is normal. In three year old terms, this is more Category Five than One.

And what I understand is that she is as unpredictable as a rogue wave or pop-up tornado. Her emotions are as choppy and uneven as the waves raging in the Gulf (okay maybe I need to chill on the Hurricane metaphors) and I literally can't keep up. One minute she is her lovely self and without warning her war flags are waving (technically nautical, not Hurricane!) or she is dissolved into tears for the slightest infraction by her brother or myself.

Tomorrow afternoon, he should get the all clear and we should reunite together under one roof for at least week. Until then, batten the hatches (again, really nautical) and say a prayer for me because this captain is tired, looking for her "Candle on the Water" so she may pull this ship in for the night.


I'll be your candle on the water
My love for you will always burn
I know you're lost and drifting
But the clouds are lifting
Don't give up you'll have somewhere to turn

I'll be your candle on the water
'Till ev'ry wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let this candle guide you
Soon you'll see a golden stream of light

A cold and friendless tide has found you
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down
I'll paint a ray of hope around you
Circling in the air
Lighted by a prayer

I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on you'll make it
Here's my hand so take it
Look for me reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go...


P.S. For those of you who know my blog well, I did consider Styx's "Come Sail Away" but good old Helen's anthem from Pete's Dragon won out by a nose. Maybe tomorrow night I will be set for smooth sailing and then I might be ready to sail away to freedom with DeYoung and crew. 'Til then, smooth sailing to you and yours.

4 comments:

Alyssa S. said...

UGH, we've been pent up because of all the rain from Alex. Downtown Houston has been flooding. Thank goodness we live out of a flood zone.

I know what it's like when your other half is out of town for a while. Mine was gone for 5 days and the kids always seem to know instinctively that it means they outnumber me! I'm always happy when he comes back.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

A very apt song, I'm glad you picked it over Come Sail Away.

One Photo said...

I think I'd have gone with Christopher Cross Sailing but only because I love that song. Quite a nautical theme mixed with hurricane news. All I know is it has been raining here for a week and no sign of any let up so our afternoons of pool and more pool are severely disrupted. Still, nothing as bad as you are experiencing with your husband. Although my week with a tempestuous three year old has certainly been challenging too :-)

Joanna Jenkins said...

Jeez Traci-- I am so sorry. Hurricane season scares me to bits. I'll send an extra prayer your way and hope things calm down so your family can be together and everyone is safe.

Great song choice.

xoxo jj