Here at Casa Maywrite we got through Sandy with no problems. The rainfall didn't amount to much and winds gusted to 48 mph, below what was predicted. About a fifth of households in the county lost power but we were fortunate.

Mary and I did stay up, in case there were any problems. For one thing we are surrounded by trees one of which toppled during the summer. However it all came to nothing.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the New York area. While we listened to the wind rushing ineffectually past our windows we passed the time reading horrific reports from NYC.

It is hard for me to imagine the scope of the devastation. I lived in Brooklyn for a few years in the late seventies. One winter we had about a foot and a half of snow. The streets by the apartment were drifted closed. But as soon as the sun came out I walked to the subway which was running, as always, and rode to the Village where streets were already cleared and shops open. The idea of the subway system being shut down for an extended time is almost unimaginable.

Earlier in the seventies I lived on the edge of the flooding from Hurricane Agnes so I know how bad the destruction can be and how shockingly long it can take for things to return to normal. Hopefully NYC will get back to its feet sooner rather than later.