Stormy Weather

I'm watching the Weather Channel to see how well my beloved Galveston survives this latest storm, Hurricane Ike.

I grew up about 80 miles inland, and visited Galveston every summer for at least a week, along with shorter visits all through the year. Admittedly, Galveston is not the most beautiful beach in the world, being below the Mississippi River delta (Corpus Christi and Sout Padre are very pretty.), but in my book, the beach is the beach. And Galveston is a fascinating and fun town. It's full of history and science, not to mention a terrific Ghost Tour.

I'm presently in the process of putting together a Mystic Moments Weekend in Galveston, to be held in late October or early November.

During the last storm to hit Galveston, Hurricane Alicia, I lived in my hometown of Conroe, and the storm blew right up I-45, right through town. We had a lot of wind and rain, east county flooded as usual, and the power was out for a bit. But my family and friends were fine.

That was the storm that caused the roofing codes in Houston to be changed. Until Alicia, roofs on high-rises in downtown Houston had aggregate (gravel) on them. The windows in those buildings were made to withstand hurricane-force winds, but not tiny flying missiles of rock. Shards of glass became flying knives all over downtown. After the storm, piles of glass shards lay everywhere downtown. To this day, no roof in downtown Houston contains aggregate.

Enough about history and the fascination with big storms. Here's something that is starting to dawn on me: I am sensitive!

I know, I'm a psychic, of course I am sensitive. But what I am figuring out is that, when this type of event happens, it makes me feel bad. I know that everyone worries about those in danger, wants to help, and hopes that damage will be minimal. And I am no different in that way. But when I think about my experience during the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, when I had an anxiety attack even though nobody knew that the bombing was happening then, I seem to pick up a little more than most people.

During this year's last hurricane, Gustav, I had an extremely anxious week. I tried turning off the news and focusing on other things, like work, but I kept feeling bad. I slept badly.

I can't tell if I feel it more than others, or if I am picking up on the feelings of people or the feelings of the earth or the storm. My best guess is that we are all sensitive to some degree and we are all feeling some of this. If you are feeling anxious because of this hurricane--or another event--I recommend talking to the event. I've had my visit with Hurricane Ike...

We do what we can!
Until next time,
Susan K.