New York City, the day after the Big Blow (October 29, 2012)~

Dear Journal~

Amelia Goerje writing.  Hope you all are okay; we are without power, but we made it through "The Big Blow" (aka Hurricane Sandy) okay.  We are currently at a shelter, but we made it through okay, with relatively little problem.  We did have some minor flooding and lost power during the height of the storm, but our place held; for that I am truly grateful. (A policeman had checked on our place and this was what he told us.  I am very relieved!)

The storm was altogether terrifying.  I had really never been in a hurricane before and I really didn't know what to expect.  There was a lot of wind, extremely heavy rainfall, and even thunder and lightning.  I thought for a while the world was gonna come to an end; it sounded like the wind was screaming at the top of its lungs and I could see the walls of the shelter bowing in and out.  I was doing everything possible to keep the kids calm; it was not easy!

Well, we're still stuck here; gonna be here until sometime next week (or the week after), depending on how fast they get the mess cleaned up.  We might as well make the best of it.

I just hope Juano is okay.  He is in Hoboken, New Jersey, and they had even worse weather up his way.  I hope to hear from him sometime today or tonight; until then, all I can do is hope, wait, and pray.

And Tanzie, she is in Alaska, where she joined the military.  I just hope she isn't freezing her socks off; I hear it's mighty cold up that way.  I hope she will call or at least let me know via Facebook that she is okay! (I can get the Internet via my phone.)

My new grandbaby, Zyrus Miguel, who is now four months old, is absolutely beautiful!  He looks just like his mamma and he's already pretty spoiled!  He is with me now as I write this; he is in my lap, sleeping and looking too adorable for words! He is such a good baby; I love him with every fiber of my being!  He slept through the storm; he really never has that much difficulty in getting to sleep. 

He probably won't remember Sandy, but I can tell him that he slept through the hurricane! LOL Wow, what a story he will have to tell his own children when he grows up! LOL

Gabriella, who is fourteen, is trying to keep busy, but the storm reports make her nervous.  She is getting antsy again; I will have to do everything I can to keep her from having another meltdown.  She is really bad at that; I sometimes can't handle her temper tantrums!!  This is when I wish Hiram (husband) was with me, but he's on his beat; he won't be home until at least four or five this afternoon.  It's only going on 11:45 now.

Well, it's about lunch time; the lunch ladies are bringing the lunch cart around; it's chili and mashed potatoes, along with a salad and for dessert, apple pie.  It smells delicious; and besides I'm getting good and hungry!  I will write once we return home; I just pray the damage isn't too great!  The policeman said it wasn't, but what he says and what the hurricane did is two different things altogether!  Take care and keep us all in your prayers; this darn hurricane really made things rough!  Thanks in advance!

~Amelia.  :(