before doppler radar

as a kid

i'd read about the hurricanes

in the newspaper,

the headline in big bold

letters.

100 mile an hour winds

hits Florida.

i stared at the pictures

of people wading

in water up

to their arms.

paddling down main

street in row boats

with all their belongings.

houses turned over,

or floating in the ocean.

horses on the rooftops,

cats,

dogs,

cows.

it was before doppler

radar.

so they didn't know what

hit them.

i was kind of jealous

of them, though.

we got nothing

like that.

just a little snow in

the winter,

heat in the summer.

and an occasional lighting

strike

that would kill a golfer.

but no hurricanes.