Fortunate

Due east earlier today.

9:00 p.m.

Ike 

97 miles from Galveston, just shy of Category 3 force

Five hours until eye landing.  They’ve endured several hours of tropical storm force winds, and at least 17 hours to go with tropical force and hurricane force winds and rain.  The worst is yet to come.  

Look at this image of Ike from the International Space Station.  Beautiful and terrible.  

Here, it is a little windy (gusts to 14 mph/21 km/h), and very hot (heat index 94F/34C).  Our winds are not forecast to exceed 45 mph, which is not unusual for an everyday kind of storm around here.

Two days ago, we worried most about whether our house and trees would survive intact.  Yesterday we worried about whether to stay or go.  Tonight we are worried about how many grapefruits we’ll lose (they won’t be ripe until November).  

No, actually, tonight I’m worried about the four million people who did not evacuate the Houston metropolitan area.  I’m worried about my in-laws, who may feel hurricane force winds more than a hundred and fifty miles inland tomorrow.   

I’ll be up.  Watching and knitting.  

Hundreds of grapefruits today.  How many tomorrow?