Our friend Buzz Singer, who lives in Bangkok, updated us on his situation there. Thankfully, he is safe, and his neighborhood is unaffected by all the flooding that hit Thailand.
This takes me back to October 29, 1989, when Hurricane Hugo slammed into Charlotte, NC, where I was living at the time. I did not have electricity in my home for eight days. Everywhere trees were down, and some unlucky folks had trees or branches smash their cars or the roofs of their homes. Lawns were a mess, strewn with leaves, branches, or downed trees. I couldn’t leave my house because a fallen tree lay across the street, blocking the corner, and making it impossible to drive. For months afterward, I could hear the sound of buzz saws in the distance. Cut branches and tree limbs were piled at the curb and it took months for it all to be cleared away.
I had water (but not hot water) and telephone service, but that was about it. Cold cereal for breakfast with apple juice or water instead of milk, just doesn’t do it. No hot showers, just cold washcloths for bathing. Grocery store clerks were handling checkouts with little hand calculators and I could only buy canned and packaged goods. Junk food was available; meat, dairy, and frozen food was not. Two days after the hurricane hit, Ben and Jerry’s was giving away ice cream because they had no electricity. People were barbequing meat and chicken, and inviting neighbors to a feast because the food had defrosted and freezers were useless.
Gas was unavailable at almost all stations because pumps operate electrically. I was lucky. I had a full tank in my car. But I couldn’t go anywhere, due to the fallen tree blocking the street. Only 24 traffic lights were functioning in the whole city, most of which were downtown. The Nationall Guard had to be called in to direct traffic.
At night it was eerily quiet and very dark. I went to bed early because there was no TV, no where to go, nothing to do, and no light. I walked to the bedroom each evening with a candle and a book to read and snuggled under the quilt because it was the end of October and quite chilly at night.
Four days after the hurricane hit, I learned that the Community Center had electricity, and HOT water. When I called them and asked if I could shower at their spa, they turned me down because I was not a member. I pleaded with the woman on the phone and at last, she relented. I drove there with my towel and soap and had the most luxurious shower I ever had, followed by some time in the jacuzzi. It was an unforgettable experience.
I was a Realtor at the time, and in the midst of all the mess, a couple from Virginia who I had been working with, insisted on coming in 2 days after the hurricane hit, to look for a house. I told them not to come, but they came anyway, saying it was the only weekend they could come. I told them I would not take the responsibility of driving them around the city, with all the power lines down, trees down, and no electricity in any of the houses they would see. They drove, we took a flashlight so we could see inner bathrooms and closets, and off we went. I showed them eight houses, they liked four, returned the next day to see three, and decided to make an offer on one. We sat in my breakfast room to write the offer because my office was closed, and then I contacted the listing agent and presented the offer. He had to contact the owner who was in Japan and the next day he accept the offer, and the house was sold! As far as I know, the new owners are still living happily ever after there.
Hurricane Hugo slammed into Charleston, SC at 150 mph on October 29th, and then, four hours later, hit Charlotte. Some things you never forget.