Summer is officially over in Virginia, pools are closed beaches deserted, white shoes packed away. It's all a bit strange to me, as it's still HOT. I'm still trundling about in flip flops, (ever the nonconformist). I don't care what the calendar says, if it's 85 degrees Fahrenheit, I aint wearing boots! They're a weird race, these Virginians.

It's hurricane season here, always an interesting time, the weather dominates headlines. Never mind the 15 shootings last night, or the two house fires, or the three bank robberies over the past week, there's a war in Iraq?

That's everyday stuff, not worthy of a headline. But look ....thousands of miles away off the coast of Africa there is a tropical depression! Weather men scramble. Television 'specials' are hurriedly put together and aired at prime time. Hurricane tracking maps fill the stores, candles and batteries appear in abundance on the shelves. Lumber yards stock up on plywood. Sales of masking tape sky rocket, and that's just the beginning. Now, do not misunderstand me, I'm well aware of the devastation a hurricane can cause, who could forget Katrina? But the truth of the matter is, in this area, when they occur, Newport News is far enough inland that the worst we experience are strong winds, some rain, and some fallen trees. (Yes I know, that's bad if they happen to land on your house, car or person). Because the Americans have yet to learn the wisdom of burying cables we often lose power, but then, we lose power if a spring breeze wafts through.

Moreover, as one dear old chap told Mike some years ago: "We live on the Bible Belt son, there are so many Mennonites and Bablists (Baptists) in this area prayin', there aint no darn wind that would DARE venture here!"

I remember my first hurricane experience, a year after we arrived. Hurricane Gloria 1985. I was panicked by all they hype, ready to pack the kids and the cats into the car and head for the hills, my emergency kit in the boot.

I remember being quite disgusted at my husband's lack of concern. " Do you want to get us all killed?" I ranted, "listen to JON CASH" (our local weather chap). I didn't know at the time that this was 'his moment in the...... should I say sun?' Yes, I was there at the grocery stores with the rest of the mob, buying up all of the bottled water and canned food, rolls of masking tape, (have you ever tried getting that stuff OFF the windows? It's no easy task believe me). We had enough batteries to run Blackpool Illuminations. I even recorded the radio updates so my family at home could hear of the dangers I faced in this urban wilderness.

It brought back fond memories of my mother, she only had to hear rumours of a shortage of ANYTHING, and suddenly our home was packed to the gills with whatever it was she feared being without. I remember thinking, just how much white pepper does one family need? My father claimed she actually caused the shortages.