Bye bye Irma

Well we finally made it home Tuesday morning.  Saturday night we got to our hotel room in Ft Lauderdale.  When we woke up Sunday morning we could see the hotel was full.  Dogs and people everywhere.  Gary went down for breakfast to very long lines.  By the time I got down there no coffee cups  left. So I ended up putting my head under the nozzle which obviously was looked down on.   I need coffee people.

By early afternoon we lost all power at the hotel.  This means walking four flights to take two dogs out.   In the dark. And the stairwell was leaking.  

So it was an early nite for us, no TV, no internet, no lights, no food, no cell service.  I could only think of a couple things to do in a situation like this.   I picked sleep.  

Things looked pretty good Monday morning.  Irma was headed north, there was lots of brush and debris on the ground but we still had no power so like lots of other people we wanted to head home.   We were about 120 miles from home but when you need gas and there is none anywhere, you might as well be on the other side of the moon.  

We asked anyone we saw where to find gas and we chased down every lead only to be disappointed.  The gas stations weren't even open.  I tried calling stations and there was no answer.  Ever.  We thought we may sleep at a gas station but gave up that idea when I realized there was no bathroom.  Old ladies gotta go.  A lot.  

So we headed towards home on fumes to another hotel with power in Weston.  We were put on a waiting list and after listening to our dogs in the lobby for five minutes we got a room with  air  and lights.  Tuesday morning Gary was the first one in the lobby asking about gas and he hit the jackpot.  When he called to tell me I packed up and was waiting at the door.

We were very lucky.  Very little damage at our houses.  But now the work begins putting everything back together.

Couple things I can take from this adventure -  you really can wear the same underwear for more than one day, never take gas for granted and be sure to appreciate the little things like a hot cup of coffee, a warm meal, a cool room, and noisy dogs.   Oh.  And the Vikings won without me yelling at the TV.