You so perfectly give voice to the "doom..." and I adore that line about how anxiety dances to the song of impending doom. It's so true. We frigging adore catastrophising everything and then question why we are chronically medicated for anxiety disorders. Where's that oh so fragile line between experts telling us about crisis-level storms (hooray for lives saved during evacuations!) and just simmering in "it's coming ...it's coming..." and all those other things we "cannot point a pistol at"? Great piece, and thought provoking as always!
I found the song turning up and turning down inside myself.
At one point when I felt the anxiety triggered by our last big storm, hurricane helene, I knew it was a trigger for most people clearing the bread isles and many other isles too.
As my scattered thoughts wondered if I should stress clean, stress shop, stress cook, I chose a 4th option. I took a nap. As in during the middle of my own storm I laid down.
And I actually slept.
When I woke I thought of Jesus sleeping in the boat in the middle of a storm.
Sometimes the storm inside our mind is worse than the storm outside. The holy spirit whispered, "be still and know that I AM".
I am thankful that the alarm for us was a false alarm. We prepared as we could and didnt need it. But now I feel like we passed the storm drill and are now prepared for whatever the rest of the winter has for us.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I still would like an 8 inch snow blanket.
Thank you for writing this. You so eloquently write the human condition.
We scrambled and made preparations, too. It never seems like enough, but we didn’t need it in the end. Now, we’re better prepared for the next one, though. But yes, the troublesome part is finding myself constantly mentally distracted and wanting to check apps and accounts frequently for updates. I was lured by the song!!!
We are in the winter of doom--no snow. It is pretty frightening. By the way, when we went to comment (on my computer, which might be why) I had to get a code that was sent to my gmail. I haven't had to do that on my phone. Weird.
Woah, I haven’t heard of that code problem before! I don’t know what’s going on there.
Out west with no snow is a very troubling longer term problem. In fact, when I was a kid the lakes here would freeze thick enough to walk on. That hasn’t happened in probably 40 years.
Erik, while you are enduring your winter storms, we have been suffering bushfires - the worst conditions were forecast since Black Saturday in 2009, which killed 173 people here in my state of Victoria. We also use the word Catastrophic for our worst conditions.
Much has changed since Black Saturday - a Royal Commission, a new warning system, far better real time information. The day was as bad as expected - Monitor; Watch and Act; Leave Now and finally Shelter in Place. It is too late to safely leave, don't expect assistance - there is no fighting of fires on day like this; at best, some asset protection.
These warnings are working, as best they can. The community is better prepared and willing to act. Tragically, one person died, but it could have been worse. Over 400,000 hectares burnt so far this month, but many fires are still going - contained but waiting for the next hot, windy day.
There is certainly value in the warning and I’m glad that is can save lives. My only point was that there are times you can’t do any more to prepare or change the situation and then continued emphatic warnings transition into hysteria.
That’s crazy news about the fires. We don’t often hear updates about Australia. I do remember some devastating fires back in 2019 or 2020, but that news was covered up when Covid became a thing.
Erik, I agree - you can only prepare so much. Our warnings have become very matter-of-fact. On high risk days, the messaging becomes very clearer - activate your fire plans and most people now follow advice to evacuate (generally there is no power to enforce evacuations). Far fewer people decide to “stay and defend” on catistrophic days.
Yes! That’s exactly the feeling of it!!
Finding beauty in any/everything outdoors. You’re the man
Thanks Kyle!
You so perfectly give voice to the "doom..." and I adore that line about how anxiety dances to the song of impending doom. It's so true. We frigging adore catastrophising everything and then question why we are chronically medicated for anxiety disorders. Where's that oh so fragile line between experts telling us about crisis-level storms (hooray for lives saved during evacuations!) and just simmering in "it's coming ...it's coming..." and all those other things we "cannot point a pistol at"? Great piece, and thought provoking as always!
Glad it wasn't as bad as anticipated! Of course, I had to chuckle a little, being Canadian lol. Our storms are epic.
Winter is the best photo subject, hey? I love the quiet street ones here 😊
No comparison to your storms, I’m sure! We’re pretty tender down here, though. Not used to that kinda thing.
Yah and that's when it's the most fun and novelty...when you know it's going away in a day or two.
It is a song and the chorus takes it up. Well put.
Thanks Andrew!
You captured the song of doom so well.
I found the song turning up and turning down inside myself.
At one point when I felt the anxiety triggered by our last big storm, hurricane helene, I knew it was a trigger for most people clearing the bread isles and many other isles too.
As my scattered thoughts wondered if I should stress clean, stress shop, stress cook, I chose a 4th option. I took a nap. As in during the middle of my own storm I laid down.
And I actually slept.
When I woke I thought of Jesus sleeping in the boat in the middle of a storm.
Sometimes the storm inside our mind is worse than the storm outside. The holy spirit whispered, "be still and know that I AM".
I am thankful that the alarm for us was a false alarm. We prepared as we could and didnt need it. But now I feel like we passed the storm drill and are now prepared for whatever the rest of the winter has for us.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I still would like an 8 inch snow blanket.
Thank you for writing this. You so eloquently write the human condition.
Such a beautiful compliment Jess, thank you!
We scrambled and made preparations, too. It never seems like enough, but we didn’t need it in the end. Now, we’re better prepared for the next one, though. But yes, the troublesome part is finding myself constantly mentally distracted and wanting to check apps and accounts frequently for updates. I was lured by the song!!!
Im a recovering weather forecast addict. There I said it.
It’s ok. I’m a recovering news junkie. We can start a support group!🤣
We are in the winter of doom--no snow. It is pretty frightening. By the way, when we went to comment (on my computer, which might be why) I had to get a code that was sent to my gmail. I haven't had to do that on my phone. Weird.
Woah, I haven’t heard of that code problem before! I don’t know what’s going on there.
Out west with no snow is a very troubling longer term problem. In fact, when I was a kid the lakes here would freeze thick enough to walk on. That hasn’t happened in probably 40 years.
Erik, while you are enduring your winter storms, we have been suffering bushfires - the worst conditions were forecast since Black Saturday in 2009, which killed 173 people here in my state of Victoria. We also use the word Catastrophic for our worst conditions.
Much has changed since Black Saturday - a Royal Commission, a new warning system, far better real time information. The day was as bad as expected - Monitor; Watch and Act; Leave Now and finally Shelter in Place. It is too late to safely leave, don't expect assistance - there is no fighting of fires on day like this; at best, some asset protection.
These warnings are working, as best they can. The community is better prepared and willing to act. Tragically, one person died, but it could have been worse. Over 400,000 hectares burnt so far this month, but many fires are still going - contained but waiting for the next hot, windy day.
Sometimes the Hymn saves lives.
There is certainly value in the warning and I’m glad that is can save lives. My only point was that there are times you can’t do any more to prepare or change the situation and then continued emphatic warnings transition into hysteria.
That’s crazy news about the fires. We don’t often hear updates about Australia. I do remember some devastating fires back in 2019 or 2020, but that news was covered up when Covid became a thing.
Erik, I agree - you can only prepare so much. Our warnings have become very matter-of-fact. On high risk days, the messaging becomes very clearer - activate your fire plans and most people now follow advice to evacuate (generally there is no power to enforce evacuations). Far fewer people decide to “stay and defend” on catistrophic days.
Sounds like an excellent system!