As hurricane Irene bears down on us this weekend I can't help but relive another similar hurricane, Bonnie. It was the same time of year, and it also hit land in North Carolina.
My Mom and her husband Charlie organized a BIG family reunion on Bald Head Island in NC. It is a wonderful resort island off Cape Fear, where you drive around in a golf cart. Every rental house has a golf cart to use. The beach there is warm and beautiful and the golf course is to die for.
Most of both of our families were present, and it was the first time that we met most of them. Mom and Charlie rented some big houses, we all arrived, took the ferry to the island and we settled in. We ate communal meals and visited each other. We watched stars through Dan's wonderful telescope, played tennis and golf and in general, we played.
Mom had the foresight to know that Hurricane Bonnie might be a threat, so when we were evacuated mid-week, we moved en mass to the Hilton in Wilmington NC, where Mom had reserved enough rooms. Bethany and her cousins sang as we left on the ferry "My Bonnie lies over the Ocean, by Bonnie lies over the sea, . . . ."
The hotel was the one the TV newscasters stayed in. Just them and us in the hotel. We were even interviewed by one of the early morning news shows. They needed stories!
When we arrived at the Hilton, all the pool chairs were in the bottom of the pool. That is where they are stored during hurricanes. Pretty creative I think. We also received a letter from the management about the ability of the hotel to hold up during the hurricane. I do remember water pouring through the window seals during the worst part of the hurricane, and we stood just outside during the worst part leaning into the wind and being held upright by the force of the wind.
We did not let something like a hurricane interrupt our reunion. We carried on playing and eating and enjoying the combining of the two families.
I always remember Bonnie when I hear about a hurricane coming, but even more so this weekend as Irene bears down on us.
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