Mandatory Vacation, Voluntary evacuation 

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 Planning one of those business trips that seemed too short for everything that I wanted to do, I boarded a plane on my way to Fort Lauderdale and landed oblivious to the news and the days to come. Even the immigration officer gave me a look like: “Are you crazy, why are you travelling to Florida today?” I Picked up my bags, rented the car, went to the supermarket and got into the working mindset. As soon as I got home and unpacked, my first stop was the beach. I breathe in the salty breeze, stare steadily at the blue horizon and thought, as I usually do: that the ocean cures any wrinkle of the heart and recharges the soul. What I didn’t know was that this time and for the next few days, the ocean had other plans for me. “Aunt” Irma was cooking something particular and unexpected. 

Thinking I had enough time for everything that I came to do, I took my time and relaxed for a few days as I started hearing over and over that there was a hurricane on the way. I have always thought that everything in the United States is more dramatic than it actually is, so Irma for me was just some other storm that was simply going to keep me away from the beach, nothing more, nothing less. A situation totally blown up of proportion. But by Monday the commotion was turning a little to real, a little less dramatic and more factual, and apparently evacuating was the only way to go. 

 I picked up my mother at the airport a few days later and for 2 days we discussed incessantly if we should weather the storm or just fleeup north. One minute we were ready to pack and the next, bravery and uncertainty kept us tied to our comfort zone. After going back and forward with every scenario and wanting to make the best decision possible; one that would be smart and practical, we threw a coin and “heads” it was.

 The decision was simple stay or leave, it was a now or never decision, otherwise getting out of Florida was going to be impossible. Once we decided to leave we spoke to my aunt and uncle; who were in the middle of the same predicament. We invited them to joins us un our trip to the South Carolina to visit some family. We thought, the more the merrier. It was a sudden mandatory vacation and even though the clock started ticking for all the work that I had to get done, it seemed exciting to make a road trip, and a great opportunity to reconnect with family.

 Carlos and Camila where the perfect partners for the trip. Perfect humor, great attitude, all the chivalry three women could wish for, and as surprising as I could only have imagined. It took us 5 hours to get to Orlando where we stayed one night while we followed the news closely on how Irma keep “upgrading” categories. By then it was a category 5 storm and it was said to be one of the strongest and largest hurricanes to hit the States. We were glad our decision had turned out correct we all didn’t want to have wasted all the change of plans for no reason. It almost seemed as though we were rooting for the storm to hit our previews destination so we could be right. Strange but true. 

Our next destination was Charleston, where mi father’s brother and family live more that 20 years ago. I have to say Charleston has to be one of my favorite towns in the US; wherever you look its simply beautiful. We were welcome very much in the Davila’s style; with uncanny hospitality, and generosity. Both my families blended with such ease, that it made me feel a huge familiarity and a warmth that had me thinking I was very lucky. Really it was the perfect spot to stay while we got news on the next steps Irma was taking, while we waited to find a flight to return to Florida, to finish up work and come back home as soon as possible. Everything was delayed and canceled. Not much we could do about it while it seemed like the reality of the disaster was going to be enormous (as in fact is was for Barbuda).

 Hurricanes are so unpredictable that there is no way of knowing what the end result will be and the aftermath of a storm like that, from the threat of running out of gas, or water, or the closing of the airport, or even the small detail of having to endure Florida without AC (I have to say for me that would be pretty tough). As the days went by the storm started shifting north, ironically toward the Carolinas. It seemed like Irma was chasing us, and for the first time I felt the frustration of being trapped by time and nature and of being unable to get back home to Fort Lauderdale and eventually back home to Bogota. I have to confess it was infuriating, I was in the middle of launching Casa Legado and wanted to get back as soon as possible. The excitement had me pretty anxious.

We headed up to Virginia and stayed in the most beautiful B&B, which turned out to give me more ideas for my own hotel, and we ended up in DC for 4 days visiting the city enjoying the opportunity to be forced to take a vacation and share with family. Finally, 8 days later we were able to catch a flight back and continue with the plans we had. The paradox was the hectic 5 days that we had after our trip. They, for sure, left my mom and me needing another vacation. As usual we were able to do everything in record time, while we got the best of both worlds, realizing that delays are not a life or death matter. Everything works out in the end. 

 I don’t know if we were a bunch of amateurs in hurricane matters, but without planning 8 days of mother nature’s anger and revenge made for a great trip.  

As dramatic as the country I was in, I thought I had to narrate this story in the same ways seeing that “when in Rome do as romans do” , but the truth of the matter was that “aunt Irma” made for an unexpected trip and specially a great story, it was a chance of visiting a few beautiful places I got to laugh my lungs out with my partners in crime and best of all I made peace with my uncle Pacho from that family I had left behind. 

One year later I am on my way to Fort Lauderdale again and thankfully Florence won’t scare me, or evict me. But my thoughts to those in the line of wind and water specially my family in one of the Carolinas. Stay safe.