Dear Friends and Family,
Well, I just experienced my first evacuation, and it was a couple of crazy days. It was most stressful on Wednesday when the electronic sign over the bridge and the bull-horned voice from the patrol car announced, "Mandatory evacuation". That really put my stomach in knots. The police said we had to be out by noon on Thursday. Doug climbed around on the roof, dripping with sweat to install hurricane shutters and I packed up files and photos and my computer into the truck. By Wednesday evening we were exhausted and decided to leave in the morning. The two and a half hour drive up 37 to San Antonio was not too bad, just a lot like holiday traffic. We stayed with friends Trisha and John at their San Antonio house, enjoying their pool and watching the news constantly for two days to see where the hurricane was headed. Friday night was our hurricane party, where the game was every time they mentioned Katrina, showed the Houston traffic, or got an opinion from an expert, you had to take a drink. We got pickled pretty fast. By saturday morning we realized that we had dodged the bullet and could head back home, and I took Doug to the airport to fly back to CA, then headed back home to Port A. Upon returning, I drove around our very empty town to see everything boarded up and to check on what was open, then went home to my dark townhouse because all the windows are covered. Thanks to all of you for your concern and prayers. I am tired but very thankful that the storm missed Port Aransas this time. Love to all, Janis