Day #7 - NOAA Warnings

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 – Day #7

St Helena’s Island, SC

This morning, NOAA warned us a gale was heading our way and that tornadoes might come with it.  Like the true Pittsburghers we are, we headed to the grocery store for bread and milk.  The search for staples, in the face of impending doom, may be hardwired into all of us because the supermarket was very busy.

Kelly decided we needed garlic.  In the garlic section, she met Miss Mazyck who gave her the following recipe for a sore throat remedy:

•    Smashed up garlic

•    Honey

•    Black strap molasses

When I asked Miss Mazyck about lemon, she though it wouldn’t hurt.  And yes, folks, you eat it.  You do not rub it on your throat – you eat it.  Think about it awhile or even mix up a batch and I bet your sore throat will clear right up.  Actually, it makes sense: both garlic and honey have antibiotic properties.  Plus, honey is soothing on the throat.  I’m not sure about the molasses.

I couldn’t decide what to do about this weather.  I thought we should, at the very least, collapse the trailer so that it might better withstand high winds.  There wasn’t much point in trying to out-run the storm because there really wasn’t anywhere safer we could get to before the storm arrived.  We decided to sit tight.

I put together an emergency bag.  It contained some extra clothes, the polartec sleeping bags, water, food, flashlights, the first aid kit, and a bottle of wine.  Thanks to Nina and Carolyn for helping us pick the appropriate wine for surviving a tornado.  Our basic plan was to keep NOAA on alert status and run for the concrete bath house if necessary.

The whole town was in an uproar over the weather forecast.  The school closed early and many businesses shut down.  Luckily, the Gullah Grub restaurant stayed open through lunch.  We feasted (think last meal before dying or being swept away to Oz) on BBQ chicken, collard greens, corn bread, squash casserole, red rice, lima beans, and sweet potato pie.  What a way to go!

It rained hard that night.  Kelly wanted to go to bed, but I made her stay up and play cards with me.  By midnight, the rain eased.  The wind never howled or roared like a freight train.  No trees fell.  We were not swept off to Oz.

In the morning, I quietly unpacked our emergency bag and cooked us some breakfast.  Kelly managed to not laugh at me.  I let Carolyn and Nina know that we survived the night – they didn’t laugh either.