TheBanyanTree: Charley

[NancyIee at aol.com]

Hurricane Charley was to come ashore in Tampa Bay, so St. Pete and much of 
Tampa were evacuated, inluding the barrier islands (Keys) from Anna Maria to 
Manasota to Venice, maybe Fort Myers.  With the catagory three hurricane taking 
aim, the devastation would be total.  My little house on Siesta Key would take 
the brunt, and even if I sold it n June, and it was someone else's concern, I 
fretted and worried. I had too much history (and stuff still) there. It was 
still my house even if the title belonged in another's pocket.

Well, Charley took an unexpected dive to the East north of Naples and Fort 
Myers, coming right into Port Charlotte, flattening Punta Gorda and nearby 
areas. Mobile home parks are junkyards, downtowns became rubble, neighborhoods are 
city dumps and thousands are homeless.

Charley then roamed up through central Florida, toward where I just bought my 
little farm.  But, there again, the powers that be looked after us.  The 
hurricane, waning little, slammed into the small town of Arcadia.  People there 
own nothing but piles of junk and are without power or water. My farm, a few 
miles to the west, got only rain and enough wind to shake the trees loose of 
Spanish Moss and small branches.

My prayers go to those who have to start over amidst the ruins. I think I'll 
meander over to Arcadia and see if I can do something to help them.

NancyLee