Weathering The Storm

        As Summer fades and fall begins to sweep in with crisper temps and turning leaves, nature also undergoes a dramatic shift. Hurricane Helene is a blazing example of Mother Nature’s wrath. My heart goes out to all of those who suffered at her hands and are still suffering today. Unfortunately, I know all too well the effects of the lingering aftermath.

        Hurricane Katrina was one of the largest natural disasters that decimated the city of New Orleans. As luck would have it, just one month before my ex-Nick and I had bought a home there. We had decided to escape the rat race of New York City life, to the leisurely pace of the South. Foolishly we thought that changing our location would save our relationship, but the thing is, no matter where you go, you bring yourselves with you. Though at the time we were filled with hope and excitement. Until we saw the alert on the news:

"Katrina is now a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of 175 mph. Evacuation orders are being issued for New Orleans and surrounding areas as officials warn of a potentially catastrophic impact."

     We were halfway down the eastern side of the country, staying with friends in Maryland, when we heard the news. Frozen in shock we were glued to the TV watching the chaos unfold. What are we going to do? We had sold our house in Westchester, and all our possessions had been shipped down weeks before. We had no idea if our new home was still standing or filled with water. We were not even sure if our flood insurance was in effect since there was a 30-day waiting period during hurricane season. The black cloud swirling over our heads in New York City had followed us on our new adventure, cursing an entire city with our bad luck.

    It was the beginning of our “next chapter” and the beginning of the end for us. Yet, when I look back, I am in awe of the resilience of nature and human beings. At that moment, I couldn’t imagine how the city could ever recover from such a disaster. As early as five years later, it was not only back on its feet, but it was now “the” place to be for up-and-coming businesses and hipster transplants.

Until next time,

❤️

Olivia

Make sure to catch up on all the chapters before Chapter 9 is released, Coming soon! https://www.secretsonsunday.com/