Wednesday – October 31, 2012
For most kids in the northeast, this might have been the worst Halloween ever. Some communities cancelled Halloween and some postponed the celebration until next week. We were still without power and news about the scope of the damage resulting from Hurricane Sandy was trickling in from the media. They were now calling it Superstorm Sandy. Last night’s storm surge brought water up into the low-lying streets of Manhattan, flooding subway tubes and several automobile tunnels. Millions of people and businesses were without power from Maine to North Carolina and westward to Ohio. The ocean areas were devastated by water and wind. Unbelievably, 85 houses burned to the ground in Far Rockaway.
We inadvertently celebrated Halloween at a little breakfast joint nearby called Country Time which happened to be open. They were lucky enough to have electricity. The front of the place was decorated for Halloween with witches, goblins, flying bats, and signs saying “Keep Out.” After a 30 minute wait, we were seated at the counter. The interior of the restaurant was decorated with scary manikins and gory masks everywhere. Large bats hung from the ceiling and blood-soaked knives dangled over the cook behind the counter. Several customers arrived in costumes and it was amusing to see witches and Dracula sitting at the tables and eating breakfast. The characters seemed appropriate to the setting. Everyone was cheerful and friendly. It was a momentary escape from the harsh realities outside.
After a hearty breakfast, I called my brother again. Last night’s midnight tide was supposed to be the record breaker. Bob said that Long Island Sound rushed up his street and connected with the cross-street. Water flooded his basement completely submerging his boiler and hot water heater. His house had been elevated many years ago and sits on a five foot high foundation. Last night, the water rose up to the top step of the front stairway, almost to his porch. By 10:00 PM, almost six feet of water surrounded Bob and Joan’s house isolating their home like a little island. The tide was supposed to rise for another two and a half hours, but all of a sudden the water stopped flowing and it suddenly receded as if someone had pulled the plug in a bathtub. As the water level dropped, Bob and Joan watched in amazement. Why not? It was Halloween. Glenda, the good witch, was watching over them!