Ode to Irma
By Anda Chance
Twas the week before Artfest
and all through the land, committees were working, completing their plans.
Artists had finished their
paintings with care in hopes that the judge soon would be there.
Suzanne checked her spread
sheets, Glinda gathered her helpers, with two days to go, their plans were
complete.
Musicians were hired, the
guests were invited, all was a jitter, the art guild delighted!
But out in the Atlantic, the
weather was stewing, we all sprang to the TV to see what was brewing.
The predictions were dire, it
could be here soon, Hurricane Irma was her nom de plume!
It looks like a killer! Board up the doors! As seasoned Floridians, we’d seen this
before.
By Saturday we knew it was
headed this way, due here tomorrow, on our special day!
The judge and musicians all
moaned, a decision was made, “We’ll have to postpone!”
After all it was better to be
safe and stay home.
Around about midnight, phone
lines went dead, lights blinked then went out as we tossed in our beds.
The wind blew and howled all
through the night, come Monday morning we surveyed our plight.
To tell you the truth, most damage was
slight, however, we now had no lights.
We soon learned that power was out in our town,
but thankfully families were all safe and sound.
Suwannee Electric got busy
and went right to work, with chain saws and pole climbers, those men never
shirk!
They would get our lights on
quick as a wink ...well, ……...at least that is what you think!
Hopes all ran high that
things would be righted, but by Thursday no lights at the library were lighted.
Our hard working team, not
ones to pout, rescheduled again with days running out.
We’ll hold it on Friday, the last day of the show, these two fearless heroes
would give it a go!
So the order went out,
“Reheat the hors d’oeuvres, reschedule
the judge, we’ve got guests to serve!”
Everyone scrambled and all did their
share, we knew that our families and
friends would be there.
Our guests must have needed a
break from the gloom, the crowd was quite large and filled up the room.
There was talk about art,
good food was shared, awards were presented, even the newspress was there.
Our guest have departed, all that’s left are bare walls, but join in three
cheers to those who gave it their all!
