Sunday, October 01, 2006

Cyclonic Deliverance

Cyclonic Thursday and everyone….including me was caught unaware!....So posey posey my son and I went…playing around with the new Panasonic digicam he got for his b- day…all the while thinking it would be just another storm…just like the other storms we’ve had …big deal…This is the Philippines…we grill rust…..stew dust……and storm is a drink..

So we fooled about in the rain…..then me Hubz’ bellowed for the boys to hurry up…..He was leaving for work and our kids were hitching a ride to get dropped off at lola’s place ( gran’ma..) Me?…Oh’..I’ve got work…I live in a computer…so….no going anywhere….’xept my bedroom to finish up something for a client…

Tweny’ minutes after …I receive a call…”get ready.” he said…” This isn’t just a storm….lock up…I heard it’s strong…will you be okay.....be calm……I’ll call you later…”….I laugh a bit saying ‘uhuh…thanks hon…no worries”….

I put down the receiver…stretched at my swivel…..then sauntered out the terrace with Bushy following me…Silence....boxed in silence….peculiar….silence…from beyond the mountains….into the heavens….

My dog started howling…I told him to hush…..I was contemplating that silence when just as suddenly, the skies above me gradually muted to a shaded gray…..dramatically easing into a graven black…black…a blanket of blank…

Bushy started to whimper… I felt a shudder creep through my nape as I heard a faded screeching scream of thundering wind from somewhere behind me…A breeze…a gust…patters of rain…silence…deathly silence…Then in one unbelievable burst of force…like acupuncture needles boring skin deep ….it hit me!...Fury…like I’ve never felt before…right on my face…right on my body…almost knocking me down….I was stunned…stood transfixed not quite comprehending what it was…This wasn’t storm……...this was ….evil….gone criminal!…

To my horror…I saw the water rise…right before my very eyes…down in the street… Up where I was…unbelievable…the drain clogged up and the terrace was catching flood…I ran for the whisk broom and maddeningly started sloshing the basin of rising tide…all the while seeing nothing…..at all…except ..except…was that a pot of plant flying in the air?........was that a roof swirling in the sky?....was that…Oh’ my god…I saw the wind pirouette in giant circles…a dancer not knowing its dance…. I felt fear…fear…and awe….awesome …awesome….awesome!!

and in the wet and sting of a hurtling cyclone…a current of torrential words poured out my lips…echoed by somebody’s song plugged onto my ears…

” ….do you remember me…

a voice ….…

have you forgotten me……....

….my soul cries for deliverance…..”

I have not witnessed this power before…I have no clout over this…no mighty person has….and I snickered at the folly I am at times…pretending to know ….when I have not known this…..Is this you god?!..Is this your answer to me?!...your tex t message?!.....your slap?!...then smack me…beat me hard!

The lights went out…...the phones went lifeless…my dog started barking mad…I ran inside and watched through an inch ov’ open window……For hours it raged…. crazily funneled and fumed….bursting doors and rattling windows…..waves of rain and gigantic cavities of twisted wind…..the four horsemen ov’ nature thundering my world……

then it was over….

tomblike calm all around….

Everything was pitch dark as I hugged my knees tight sitting alone in the corner of my ….my bed. Out of the darkness…the phone rang and I snatched it…hoping it would be my husband…my cellphone was out of battery….it was cold…and wet…and frighteningly creepy…I wanted him…I picked up and said hello….

…….then all color drained from my countenance….I glanced at the mirror…and saw eyes…...the eyes of a cyclone staring back…….watering….pouring….

dead on arrival…

this morning…..

while “Milenyo” was wrecking havoc…

my student…

Gemuel…

died….

he was…

ten

he

was

too

young



……………………crimson regrets……..and……………… death……………………

18 comments:

..................... said...

ah, geez, lux, I'd been worried about you. I'm so sorry for little Gemuel and his family and for you.
I do hope that you and all your family are okay.
I lived through hurricane hugo over 10 years ago when those winds wouldn't stop as it came inland..

X. Dell said...

Lux, my condolences. It pains me that you lost someone in the weather, but I am quite sure it was because of the weather and nothing else. I'm sure you'll miss Gemuel. Send my love to his family.

Cora's not online, but she'll be thrilled to know that you're okay. I'll tell her the news when I talk to her today.

Flea said...

Lux, I am so sorry to read this. Oh gosh, that's so awfull. Please except our condolences to the family and you, it must be so hard.
I am glad the storm is over and you are o.k.
Wishing you a calm week and sending you all my cyber hugs.

HLiza said...

Lux, I'm sorry too for what you've experienced and your loss. Thankful that you're safe. Just be careful and always be watchful okay..

Lady Prism said...

Schaumi...been trying to get online but power here is still fluctuating...terrible really...but more than the weather was what happened to the kid...I went to the wake and his mom just hugged me and said that the kid we both tried to raise together left us...I din't seem to have the right words...what was I to say....my picture...with the kid taken a few years back was on top of the casket...I was just...wow....like...I felt numb...I kept saying ..."that's me...that's me..."...I will write to you sometime tomorrow...

X:Dell...

I have received word from Cora...I sooo envy her...having met you...wow!...

Thank you for your kind words....really from the bottom of my heart...thank you...I always feel you to be so sincere...

Hannelie:...I got your mail...cyberhugs to you as well...I will respond tomorrow...It's late and I just got back from the wake...

Hliza:...yes...I will be careful...thank you...I'll be in touch!

sparringK9 said...

/bark bark bark

grrrrrrrrrrl im sending a circle tail out. im sorry.

/(soft) grr

Sue said...

So sorry. Death is always tragic, but particularly so in one so young.

..................... said...

luxie sweetie,

you be in touch when you can..
no hurry..
take care of your family and yourself first.

Lady Prism said...

K9...Thanks...( patting the dog...)....

Tab:...I sure learned about respect...respect for nature...respect for what humans can't control...or can they......been reading up on weather controland stuff like that..weird..

Sue:...shocking...I hope this will be the last I witness..


schaumi:...yeah....thanks for everything...

X. Dell said...

Well, Lux, someday you'll meet her too, and then I'll be envious.

Unknown said...

I am glad that you are all right.

Lady Prism said...

Yeaaah!..I'm like so excited to meet her!..I only wish that life would afford me the chance to meet you too...sigh!

SJ:..thanks...I suuuurviiived!!!..yah!

Lady Prism said...

thanks Lee!...glad to see you here!...:))

Helene said...

wow. I am not even sure what to say never having experienced what you did. I am glad that you are ok but clearly it is something that you never really get over. Ugg.

Great photo and description of the storm.

Gary said...

I have never known anyone that young who has died. I guess I have just been very lucky. So sad to hear about this.

Lady Prism said...

Hi Kate!...Thanks...I'm still trying to get back the usual wacky flow ov' my thoughts...Maybe next week I can smile and laugh my usual way...right now...I just want to sit here and type..and think ov' all ov' you...

Gary...

Oh' gosh took me by surprise..like deep shock...

Don said...

Sorry to hear of your student's death. That's tough, tough to deal with. Good luck there. Glad to hear that you are ok (and I assume your family!). It sounds like you've had a bad cyclone season. Hopefully it will soon be over with no more bad storms. Take care.

Don said...

Sorry to hear of your student's death. That's tough, tough to deal with. Good luck there. Glad to hear that you are ok (and I assume your family!). It sounds like you've had a bad cyclone season. Hopefully it will soon be over with no more bad storms. Take care.