The Calm Before

The advent of 24 hour weather channels allow all of us to watch hurricanes land like never before. When it is known that a large storm is approaching, they send out reporters to live on the coasts and report their experience. The national weather stations start covering the big storms days in advance.

The first few reports usually show a beautiful white sandy beach in Florida, not a cloud in the sky. Yet, people are boarding up their windows and mooring their boats, or the smart ones are, anyway. There is always the one person who isn't scared of the approaching storm. Often, the person is a few years older, and typically says "This is where I live, this is where I stay."

After the storm, good reporters always follow up with such people. The subject invariably is either stupid or heroic depending on the random event of their survival. Human critters like to try and find cause and effect, and it is normal to hear things like "my faith kept me alive", or, "this house can withstand any wind." Either of these could be true.

Swampy is in that calm now. When he flies to see his aunt, he will have to arrange for her house to be cleaned. He might even have to stay through the process. Swampy will also have to make certain her taxes were properly paid, and that she has money to live on for the next cycle.

There is another problem, as well. Swampy's aunt loves to donate money. She has a soft spot for dogs and cats, and so gives generously to rescue organizations. There is nothing wrong with such donations, but it is important that they not be so much as to cut into personal needs.

The amount of mail she gets is intense, because she has given so much to so many. It is time to start getting organizations -- except for a few -- to stop sending solicitations.

Swampy is the executor for his aunt, and will see that her estate makes donations to help the animals.