Dawn's early light

In that morning's Netherworld, looking for answers.

 

 

Hurricane Milton

Been in the dark now for a week.

Milton took down the old growth, and stripped the leaves from the trees. Siesta Key became the center of the storm, coming in at a Category 3 with 120mph sustained winds. 

When a hurricane "eye" passes over, during that short period of calm, some old-timers would say, "Good time to walk the dog."  And we did.

National radar map highlighting the heavy precipitation north of the 'eye' with Sarasota (blue dot) being at the center as the 'eye' rapidly passed over. A way for it to all end.

October 9th, 2024

Hurricane Helene

Thursday, September 26th;  Hurricane Helene

Major flooding out on the barrier islands from a historic storm surge.

"It may seem irrational to see some people stay with their homes to defend them, but consider coming home to a damaged house that an insurance company may never compensate you for."  Jeff VanderMeer, NYT, September 27, 2024.

Finding the couches not in their right place, a refrigerator overturned, the beds and furniture, the books, the family's photo albums all scattered about, all had been floating around the home the night before. Returning home, finding all those belongings now quietly resting, but well soaked, was at the least, bizarre and disturbing.

One of a few items that was actually meant to float, I found perfectly upright the following morning. 

 

Interesting photo, incoming surge. 

 

 

Riding the hurricane out by myself became an intense wind-filled night, spent mostly holding a flashlight in hand while swimming in near chest-deep water. 

By early evening, a four to five foot high Gulf surge with heavy winds had lifted our outside deck and threw it up against the house trapping the outside exist thru the living room's sliding glass doors. By 8:00 pm a whirling, dark brackish water had run it's course through-out the home's interior. Somehow, prompted by someone's concerned social media post, a neighbor from down the street of much higher ground, luckily came by kayak - and yelling out my name, rescued me.

 

 

Downtown; Hotel Voco.  (Evening of the following day).

Below; some of my wife's jewelry, my old Stetson, and our dog Lolly's reaching paw, from my attempt at retrieving some small carry-able items after that first return back home. Many more days of retrievables to come. Thirty more years worth.

 

 

 

Another one, and they just keep comin' ....

Tropical storms, hurricanes, storm surge & flooding. Mandatory evacuations declared today for all Level A areas, our designated Siesta Key island flood zone.

Now approaching Hurricane Helene. And it’s only been 6 weeks since the last flood (Debbie). We're all gettin' a little worn out, tired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

at Keelie's request

My niece is the archivist. One who reminds me that important items should always be documented.

In late 1977, I purchased a fine, Seminole woman's patchwork skirt off a used clothing rack from the old Miccosukee Cultural Center, then located along the Tamiami Trail down in the Glades. I was gathering material for a series that I had started, on documenting native American clothing.

The Hidden Seminole, (1978) - satin patchwork skirt with sheer translucent cape.

 

 

As for the skirt, I have kept it in my possession for over 45 years, rarely pulling it out from it's forgotten drawer. Recently I decided to return it back to the tribe for which it once belonged. So, I contacted the AH-TAH-THI-KI Museum's collections department - and they said they would love to have it.

Appears to be from the early 1950's. A rare satin, "ric-rac" patterned patchwork skirt, with a tied waist, worn by a female tribe member as daily wear (unlike those that were crafted later for the tourist industry). 

 

 

 

So I wrapped it up and sent it out yesterday.

 

 

 

An early photo of a Seminole homestead, showing a young family living alongside the old Tamiami Trail.

 

wet dream

 

 

 

High water

Big gators. 

A 10 foot road kill.