Thursday, July 9, 2009

It Just Could Happen...!


It was just after 8:00 in the evening as the local stations broke into the regular programs to make the announcement.

A suitcase bomb had just been detonated in a subway train in New York city. Massive deaths were being reported, along with far too many injured to count . The true consequences wouldn't be known for a long time yet, but for a few individuals across the country the signal was clear.Time to get out of Dodge!


Even before the news story was completed, the old man got up from his chair and turned off the small T.V. in his bedroom. Going to the closet, he took out a small back pack, already loaded with sundry items. He did not bother checking the contents as he had just checked them two days ago as he did every Friday!

Reaching up to the shelf in his closet, he took down a small zippered bag containing a loaded .38. Reaching back into the corner, the old man brought out his well worn Marlin .22. Walking over to the bed, he sat down, taking off his house shoes and replacing them with his very comfortable hiking boots. He then stood, took his windbreaker off the hook on the back of his bedroom door, slipped it on and walked into the living room of the house he shared with his daughter and son-in-law.

The news was still showing the reports about the bombing, supplemented with reports from the national broadcasters. During one of the mandatory commercial breaks, he said "I'm leaving for the desert. If you want to go, the time is now." His son-in-law didn't even look back, but just chuckled and shook his head. The daughter, however, got up and came over to her dad.

"Is it because of this bomb thing, dad?" she asked with concern in her voice. He looked her straight in the eyes and said "This? This is just the beginning. What's coming next is going to be much worse, trust me."

The younger couple had been hearing the old man's warnings for years. Hearing, but not really paying attention or believing !

"Dad, this is just an isolated incident and it's a long way from here! There's no need to think that anything else is going to happen!" She looked worried, but not for anything about to happen, but instead about the fact that her Father was finally going off the deep end.

"Don't bother" the son-in-law said, still not looking around. "He has been just waiting for something like this as an excuse to leave for a long time!"


The old man just hugged his daughter, went out the kitchen door to the driveway where his old truck was parked. He loaded the backpack behind the front seat, went back into the house to get his rifle and pistol and, pulling the door behind him, left the house for the last time.

The old truck was mechanically sound and always kept full of gas. With a sadness he couldn't hold back, he ran over the mental checklist of the contents he kept in the camper on his truck. Satisfied that everything was in order, he wiped his eyes and backed out of the driveway. With nothing but a brief glance at his daughter's house, he sadly put the truck in gear and headed for IH-10 out of Houston. Because of it being Sunday night, the traffic was very light and the old man made good time on his trip.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. the next day, Monday, right in the middle of the daily heavy traffic and the mass of commuters jamming the freeways...the five nuclear bombs hidden in containers at the port of Houston detonated as planned. The city of Houston and a large portion of the Texas Gulf Coast disappeared.forever!

The old man heard the news on his shortwave set as he sat at the camp table outside of his camper. He bent his head and cried out loud for a long time. Finally, the tears were mostly gone, and the old man reached and poured himself a stiff shot of whisky into his coffee. He had tried and tried over the years, but nothing could convince those that didn't believe. Still, he wished that he could have done more somehow!

Taking his cup in his hand, holding it up to the starry sky, he made his toast "Rest in peace! I love you both!"

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit on the patio for a bit. We can talk about the importance of staying prepared all the time, OK?

28 comments:

Felinae said...

Thank You Uncle Hermit, that post held my attention, very well written, my friend.

I agree, it is extremely important to be prepared for anything at all times.

Before Catman flew out Sunday on his business trip, he made sure that both of our vehicles were full of fuel, tires properly inflated and that both myself and our daughter knew where the weapons that are not kept in the safe were being stored.

The BOB is kept in our master bedroom and is within easy reach.

So we are pretty much set, but it's always good to keep reminding people.

That's about all we can do, we can give them advice on the importance of being prepared but we can't make them listen.

What's that saying? You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Well, I think I've rambled on long enough here. Let's get that coffee now.

Have a great day!

Hugs~Felinae~

HermitJim said...

Hery Felinae...
Thanks so much for coming by and I appreciate the nice words this morning.

Just never hurts to try and convince those we care about just one more time!

Thanks again for the visit...

Wyn Boniface said...

You know if that is the case I am along I-10. ;)

I noticed an acquittance finally noticed the microchipping. Despite this fact you still cannot talk sense to them.

HermitJim said...

Hey Wyn...
I guess that some folks just can't believe what's right before their eyes...

Makes you wonder just what has to happen before they wakw up!

Thanks for the visit this morning...I appreciate it a lot!

Sage said...

I guess that is the difference between the sheep and the goats in this world.. the sheep believe in togetherness and safety in numbers the goats are more independant and thinkers...

Me.. I'm definitely a goat..

vlad said...

Howdy
Good coffee
Talking to some is a waste of time.
Keep the right tools and toys in your 4x4 vehicle 24/7 and buy fuel at 100 mile intervals.
I may be the only old nut in East Texas who has an insulated parka
coat and bibs (walk-around sleeping bag) in my truck.

Baby Sis said...

Good thoughts, Bubba, and very well written. I'm getting there, convincing others is just a waste of time. My partner and I were just discussing our plans last night - seems like bug-out time is getting closer, especially with Boss Obama trying to run the world of business from the WHITE House. I'm not quite as prepped as you, but we're working on it....

Love -

Anonymous said...

Good morning. Sadly, this may not be fiction.

Have a good day.

Kyddryn said...

Good morning, Mister Hermit, sir.

Sigh. Sad. I don't have a bag packed, and won't carry firearms...but I DO have an escape plan...my plan "B"...at least until I can move farther out into the country and build a home, a place for my people to come visit, vacation, rest, and (if needed) shelter should the time come.

I hope, though, that the time never comes...and meanwhile...perhaps I'll pack a bag when I get home...to go with the things already living in my van...

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Rae said...

Scary but a real possibility. Is there any place really safe to escape to though?

Good to see you today. If you get a chance read my post today - thought you my like my take on a good cup of coffee. Have a great day friend.

Anonymous said...

Morning HJ,
A very real possibility. However, things are starting to affect people directly now and they're starting to take notice. In a small way, true, but I'm seeing and hearing of stirrings in the heard.
YeOldFurt

HermitJim said...

Hey Sage...
Never thought about it quite tht way before, but I think you're right! Guess that I'm just an old goat also!

Hey, thanks for the visit today!...


Hey Vlad...
Better to have it and never need it, that need it and not have it...just another type of insurance, for sure!

Hey, thanks for coming by!


Hey Sis...
Guess the best thing to do is to stay as ready to leave as possible, and always have a plan or two to follow.

Backups and pln "b"s are a good thing! I sure do appreciate you coming over today!


Hey Kris...
That's so true. It would be nice if all this, or things similar, would never happen...

That's why we stay ready...for the if and when of it all!

I'm o glad you dropped by today, my friend!


Hey K...
Never hurts to have a plan and adding more to the things in your van couldn't hurt!

Any action is better than no action, I'm thinking!

Appreciate the visit this morning, K!


Hey Rae...
Good to see you too! Let's it doesn't come to this for a long, long time!

Off to read your post! Anything coffee related is right up my alley!

Glad you came to visit this moring, Rae!


Hey YOF...
Funny how when things start to happen close to home, it gets the attention of the nay sayers a bit more!

Thanks for coming by today, buddy!

JoJo said...

Good morning my Special One,
I learned to be ready for a totaly different reason but it works all the same. Way back when when I started camping I was told to always have extra food, warm clothing and water in case something happened and you got stuck in the middle of nowhere. So I always carried a few extra clothes in the car. Water here in the desert can not be safely kept so I always grab a few frozen bottles when I will be traveling. Then you and I had that long talk and I asked about the canned food storage time. After all your great advise I started buying some to keep in the camper.
So keep trying to educate us. Some may be slow to learn but maybe they will start to figure it out.
And of course well written post as always.
Where is that coffee and I guess I will check out Rae's post also.

HermitJim said...

Hey JoJo...
Glad to see you this morning, my Lady! I'm happy that you are keeping some supplies in the camper just in case!

I'll have to get with you on the water storage thing...as I have some ideas that you may want to share!

Now, pull up your chair and let's get that coffee!

JoJo said...

I will be waiting for my next lesson as always. :)
Coffee is sooooooooo good this morning. Must be off for the pool soon can't trust the weather anymore for the late afternoon. Storms are hiting fast and strong around 5pm now.

HermitJim said...

Hey JoJo...
Just be sure to get out of the pool if it starts to cloud up!

Might get your hair curled for free!

Meadowlark said...

You'll throw something at me, but right now, I'm giving up. I've stopped prepping and am just focusing on keeping my family OK. In the future (if there is a future) I'll restart, but my plate is full.

Oh, and reading "One second after" http://www.onesecondafter.com/ did nothing to make me feel better. It's a rather hopeless book, except for the magical dream world where a person just "happens" to have the right vehicle and "appens" to have the right connections and "happens" to have a home built where there are natural features of protection and "happen" ... well, you get the point.

So for right now, I'm giving up. :(

HermitJim said...

Hey Meadowlark...
We all have to go with our own set of priorities, my friend. I'm certainly NOT going to throw anything at ya!

Keeping the family safe first and foremost is certainly a good thing! No one can fault the thinking on that!

Your visit today is most appreciated, and I look forward to having you continue to visit!

Anonymous said...

Great story Hermit.

That scenario 10 years ago would sound like nonsense, but nowadays, like a very possible scenario of what may occur. I'm just not sure if it would be one explosion, or several detonated simultaneously. Houston - yeah, with port and oil, as well as major population center (8th largest in U.S.?), it would be a target, no doubt.

Leaving my loved ones behind would not be an option though. I have two young children and a wife, and I cannot possibly fathom facing my Creator and trying to explain why I was derelict in duty. Adult children are old enough to make up their own minds and have a choice - young ones don't and my responsibility, as well as wife's, is to do everything possible to keep them alive, even at expense of ours. Just my .02.

Thanks again - coffee was especially delicious this morning.

HermitJim said...

Hey Anon 12:14...
The old man in the story has spent years trying to warn his grown daughter and her husband, but to no avail.

I, like you, could never leave young ones or a spouse...but being single with grown sons...I have to figure that if they want to go, let's go. If they chose to stay, I'll be sad but I won't force them.

Hard times call for hard decisions...the hardest part may just be living with the choices we make!

Thanks so much for the visit today, my friend!

Ken said...

...i seen through it Jim...yer right,decisions are tough by nature,or there would not be any real 'choices'...responsibilities are fluid,especially with our offspring...keep dropping the hints tho cuz eventually some will sink in...GodBlessYa Brother

Luke N. beaumont said...

Thanks for the great story Jim, I'm over here on the other side of Houston , in Jefferson County, and I cant help but feel boxed in if soemthing like this were to occur in houston. Makes we want to fast forward my plans to move up into the Big Thicket.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
Sometimes all we can do is to keep on trying. I do what I can, but sometimes i get the feeling that I just can't reach them.

Maybe someday that will change. Hey, thanks for stopping by, my brother!


Hey Luke...
Sometimes living where we do can be scary to think about! As far as moving to fast forward, I certainly can understand that. I'm a little more uncomfortable here every day!

Hey, I sure do appreciate you dropping by today, Luke! Hope to see you again...

Anonymous said...

Hello mr hermit;

Jim I bet I read this post 5 or 6 times. Can't shake the feeling it could be me. My daughter, and son-in-law are not prepped,and neither is my son and his wife.

I'll miss them all when it happens, but I want to live to see this great country rise from the ashes to be great again.

I hope they will make to my hideout when they realize the truth. I have provisions for them, and have told them so.The father in me says I'll still protect you-but you have to come to me.

See ya

HermitJim said...

Hey Tony...
All we can do is make them welcome if and when they show up...and pray that they make it!

Sad, but true I'm afraid. Hey, thanks for coming by, my friend!

Graced0609 said...

My family and I are working to get prepared for anything as best we can, but until my husband gets out of the military and back home it's been difficult to do. Articles like this really put things into perspective. Keep up the good work and promoting preparedness to open as many eyes as possible.

HermitJim said...

Hey Grace...
I can only imagine how difficult it must be getting things ready while serving in the military. We all know that the families serve as well as the spouse, and we are very proud of your family's service, believe me!

If you ever need help with anything, just let me know.

I'm glad you came by today...I really am!

Unknown said...

Bubba,
I have to ask you again, why don't you have your work published? I can't think of too many rejecting a "SHORT STORY" like this.
I personally think one step to staying prepared is to forgive and not hold grudges. We never know when the last time we see a loved one will be.
Great, as always. I love you.