Good News And Bad News...

Well, as the hurricane starts to come ashore in Louisiana I'm struck by the fact that Texas has once again dodged the bullet as far as major hit or damage from a hurricane for a long time. This is for the most part good news. Very little loss of life in the States, light damage to property, not much in the way of flooding (at least not so far).

The winds have dropped off to a mere 110 miles per hour, the storm probably is a category 2, down from a category 3. There are plenty of warnings of tornado's and power outages, but as far as hurricanes go...Louisiana is faring pretty well. So is Texas...and there in lies the problem.

Several major storms have started in this direction over the last couple of years, and so far the Texas coast has missed out on the brunt of the storm. Every time a storm changes direction and Texas misses out on the major trauma of a big storm, the people have a tendency to get passive and less concerned with the danger the next time a major storm is announced. Fewer and fewer people take action and prepare less and less. While this is really good news as far as no direct hits, with everyone getting more and more passive as far as preparation the chance of extreme damage to life and limb when we get the inevitable hit.

Whether it's in life or a hurricane, or a thunderstorm, or even a heavy rain we cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into believing that nothing bad is going to happen. The old saying around the Texas coast is to "prepare for the worst and hope for the best!" Just because nothing happened this time doesn't mean that it won't happen the next. I'm not trying to be negative here, but merely point out the danger in letting down your guard in any potentially dangerous situation.

Let's remember to keep good thoughts in our hearts and mind for all the less fortunate folks caught in the fury of the storm as it comes ashore. Watch a little of the damage being done as it's shown on the weather channel and you will see just how fortune has smiled again on those of us who have missed the major part of these storms at this time.

I'll take the heat, mosquitoes, thunderstorms and the like over a hurricane any time. Thanks go out to all who offered the good wishes and showed concern about our safety. It is all appreciated, it truly is.

Now let's go outside and have some fresh coffee at the patio table...and be thankful that the patio furniture is still there.