The Nor'easter of Spring '07

     The Northeaster that blew through here during the last few days caused a great deal of destruction including flooding, beach erosion and downed trees. That's just were I live. Elsewhere, according to the news, deaths and loss of homes and property is attributed to the storm. As I write this the tail end of it continues, but it is down to a drizzle with no wind.

     Yesterday, for a while in the afternoon, we had a respite. I needed to quickly run a few business errands in town, so I headed out. From what I could see, my property seemed fine, but with everything being so wet and muddy, I just took a quick peek around.

     When I finished my errands the sun peeked out for a moment. It was enough encouragement for me to head to the ocean lookout here, where we drive up and see the local ocean beach. I am very familiar with this beach, beginning with an incident on a summer day when the sea came in and we had to move our blanket t back when I was four years old.

     Over the years the beach has eroded. Local authorities spurred on by the wealthy property owners who own homes also along the beach haven made various engineering efforts to thwart the ongoing erosion. I had seen the beach after hurricanes, when the storm surge had overtaken and even partially washed away the drive I was about to enter.

     Nothing prepared me foe what I found, especially since the winds were not as great as in a hurricane.

     Of course, as expected, the road overlooking the beach was covered with sand. However, the foam from the water was blowing not more than 14 feet from the top of the dune. From where I was parked, even in late afternoon, the waves continued to reach that point. Usually there is at least a gull or two, circling overhead or walking on the sand. People come and eat their lunches or have snacks and watch the water from the lookout drive. The gulls scavenge any leftovers. Yesterday, there were no gulls at the ocean beach.

     Even though the brunt of the storm had ended earlier in the morning, the low lying areas were flooded. Trees were down or broken. I was feeling quite snug that my damage had only been having my garbage cans tossed across the yard.

     The wildlife seemed to be going about their business, unperturbed. Gulls flew overhead. By Agawam Lake, which flows directly to the ocean, ducks and geese were swimming. Robins were busy on the sides of the road, where the grass was above water, searching for worms. Gulls were flying or perched on the fence or other spots. One was near the road and looked right at me as I drove by, acknowledging my presence, maybe wondering if I intended to stop. Many people feed the ducks and geese and the gulls join in, squawking for their fair share. 

     I headed for National beach, so called by the locals because that beach borders part of the National gold links. As I passed my own house I found my neighbor on the other side and also the one across the street, who runs a tree nursery and business, dealing with a small tree of mine from the farthest corner of my yard, that had apparently blown over and hung precariously across the tall hedges that separate our properties, but also directly of the neighbor's driveway.

     Not as snug as I thought!

     By the time I arrived, they had cleared it and secured it with a rod so it was safe and could be removed when the weather cleared. That was supposed to be today.

     Even so, no one was hurt and s no property damaged.

     After this seeing that there was nothing for me to contribute at the moment, I headed on to National. Much more erosion, far less beach and parts of the road washed away. Still, the seagulls were flying overhead, happily searching for fish. That they now had less beach did not seem to perturb them at all.

     Last night the weatherman assured us today would be bleak, maybe a drizzle, but that would be about it.

     No so. The rain continued on for most of the day and this morning there was some wind, but not as bad as on Sunday. Even so, the big pine at the other side of the front of my property was so wrapped up with the cable line that I lost Internet, cable TV and my phone! Again, not that big a deal, except the wire was across the road, which some folks try to use to make better time during the commute home. So, Cablevision sent over a crew, who sent for an extra crew and by dinnertime I had service.

     Aside from being inconvenienced, various property damage and more beach erosion, where I live we came through the storm. Funny thing though, the wild animals, who lack property ownership, cable TV, phones or Internet seem to be doing even better.

     The ducks, seagulls and geese actually seem to being enjoying it all.

Psalm 69 (Seagull) by Judy Rey Wasserman

     My painting series, Written on the Wind, was inspired after the tsunami, when the news reported that most all of the wild animals had survived. Somehow, they knew in advance to flee to safety.

April 18, 2007