Blown Away

Our weather comes in two flavors--truly hot and simply divine. This time of year, we are accustomed to the latter variety. Generally, we are not disappointed and neither are the thousands of people who flee to the desert, escaping less hospitable climes. Those are the individuals wearing shorts, sandals and smiles. The natives bustle about clad in long pants, light sweaters, and sometimes, a scowl or two. Our peaceful place is almost overrun with drivers (often very, very slow ones), walkers, and shoppers. Lines proliferate at all our favorite stores, popular seasonal events sell out quickly. I try to visualize all the green that's flowing into the valley and ignore the inconveniences. Golf and tennis, hiking and swimming are favorite activities of temporary residents. Sunshine is the siren call.

While other parts of the country cope with indeterminable cold, ceaseless rain, and bouts of snow, we try not to be too smug about another day of 70+ degree days. Occasionally the harmony of the season is interrupted by a mild earthquake. After living here for more than three decades, we hardly notice. We're blessed not to encounter hurricanes or tornadoes in any forecast and we worry about our family and friends in other parts of the country who face these conditions regularly.

But then, there is the wind. Living in the shadow of several mountain ranges, we are affected by a scientific phenomenon known as the Venturi Effect. Basically it is wind being whipped through a narrow pass and the results can be devastating. Several of our north-south routes are routinely closed due to blowing sand creating impassable streets. Detours are commonplace in those areas.

Yesterday, the wind visited with a vengeance. In all our years here, we've never experienced such ferocity. The house shook, debris blew from every direction, and trash littered the grass and flowerbeds.



The pool became a haven for dirt, leaves, needles, and flying papers. Some of this mess sank, the rest still floats on once almost pristine water.



In the back yard, our lone lemon tree cracked. A sad branch rests against the concrete wall. Grapefruit, lemons and oranges plummeted to the ground and could have caused injuries had anyone been nearby.




As wind gusts approached 66 mph, Henry and I ventured into the front yard, hoping to rescue a cactus, perilously leaning to the left. With a strong length of yellow string, we tied the plant to a nearby light standard. Later, our neighbor brought an additional length of blue tape to add more security to the improvised remedy. This afternoon, the wind is absent. The cactus is not uprooted. It may survive.




Taking a drive to the grocery store today, I saw many trees totally destroyed. Not just fairly new trees, but also more substantial varieties which lay sideways in parking lots and along busy streets. A commercial building's roof is literally peeled back--a startling sight.

At the grocery store, I learned that power was lost mid-afternoon yesterday and that dry ice was brought in by huge trucks in an effort to save all the perishable food. Many homes and businesses were powerless the whole night.

The wind continued for about 10 hours. It howled and hit whatever was in its path. News reports indicate that no people were harmed by the assault. For that, everyone is grateful.

In the next few days, gardeners and pool cleaners will have an enormous task undoing the damage caused by the wind, if that is possible. Felled trees will be hauled away. People will continue to emerge from the safety of their homes or hotels.

This brief weather pattern could have been so much worse. We are very lucky that we weren't blown away.