I’m lilpsophobic. Also, brontophobic, ombrophobic and ancraphobic.
Translation: I’m afraid of tornadoes and hurricanes, lighting and thunder, rain, wind.
Storms are anxiety-inducing for me. Obviously I’ll never be a weather-girl, unless there is an IV of ativan being pumped into me continuously.
I didn’t balk when we decided to drive into a tropical storm to hit St. Simons for a few days. Not sure why, but it just didn’t cross my mind to be concerned. I lived here for 2 summers and rode out a few tropical storms… they weren’t bad. I evacuated for hurricanes but the tropical storms were just rain and wind producers. No biggie.
The wind is extreme. But not terrifying.
The rain is off-and-on extreme. But not terrifying.
I don’t feel like my life is threatened. I feel calm.
Maybe it’s because when you see something like this, you realize that really, you’re not in charge. None of this is in your control.
I’m serious. HOW can you look at that and not believe in some higher power? On one hand, you have a terribly angry ocean that could take you under and kill you in an instant. And on the other hand, you have a bright blue sky with delicate clouds and a double rainbow, absolutely perfect in every way. It’s the yin and yang of the coast.
Anyway…
After that rainbow came the guts of the storm. And it wasn’t horrible. In fact, I slept right through it.
The morning brought some sun between the clouds. The boys went out to walk and when they came back, Henry said, “Jim Cantore is way down there but we didn’t go all the way. Do you wanna go walk with me?”
Uh, hell yeah, I do!
I grabbed my camera and took a deep breath. The clouds were dark but sun was peeking through. The tide was low-ish so we could safely walk on the beach. I would be ok and the storm wouldn’t pick me up and take me out to sea (I hoped).
Walking against the wind (see the ancraphobia reference above) was difficult. It was probably 30-40mph wind gusts at our face. It was very hard to stand straight up. Every now and then we got pelted with small drops of rain, but drops that felt like tiny bullets going through your legs. Same with the sand blowing. It hurt. The combination of sand and sea salt coated my glasses and my hair? We shouldn’t talk about my hair.
Halfway there, Henry wanted to turn back. BUT WE’RE ALMOST THERE. And there’s nobody at the beach right now and OMG WE MIGHT SEE HIM!
More rain. This time a little heavier, quick and painful. But we pressed on. I would like to go on record that my Canon T2i was in jeopardy this whole time but I DIDN’T CARE!
We were finally at East Beach, nearly a mile from The King & Prince, our starting place. I figured if we walked up the walkway where The Weather Channel car was parked, we might get a glimpse of Jim Cantore. Or maybe not. Whatever. We’d come all this way, what did we have to lose?
And damn if he didn’t get out of the car when we walked up!
He said “Hey man, how’s it going?” to Henry. (I know it was the I <3 Bacon shirt… damn, why does everybody love bacon so much?)
Henry shook his hand and Jim handed him his TWC microphone. Of course, I’m fumbling for my cell phone because it’s faster to share the picture on Facebook, Twitter and EVERYWHERE with the phone than with the big camera.
So they posed:
And then I died.
I handed my phone to the other guy and he snapped a quick picture of us. It’s like we planned our outfits, y’all! (except as someone pointed out, HL and I look like we’re off for a day of shopping and JC has on his “oh shit” jacket) (also, he’s short) (also, also, hotter in person than on tv)
And then we walked away.
He said something and I was all, “Huh?” like he was talking to me.
I turned and looked at him and he was like, “Just talking to the guy in my ear.”
Awkward much?
I texted Jason who told me that it was pouring down rain at the King & Prince. So of course I asked him to come get us since we were a mile away and tired.
Plus, it was faster to get back to the room and make this souvenir collage of me and my weather boy.
None are flattering of me, but whatever. It was early and IT'S JIM CANTORE!
So I think I’ve conquered a little of my fear of wind and rain. Also, my fear of walking up to hot weathermen and putting my arm around them.
And Jim Cantore, if you’re reading this, THANK YOU! You made my life my kid’s week! He wrote a postcard to his friend telling him he met you! Also, please stay away from my vacation spots.
That.Is.Awesome!
Right? I’m so excited!
Jana,
You rock! Conquering fears is a topic that really resonates with me, being bathmophobic (stairs/heights) to the point where I’ll inch along clothes rails in shops to avoid being close to stair rails. After Googling Jim Cantore, I can say that is also awesome- celebrity spotting rocks.
Take care,
Casey
Casey recently posted..Reaching out to relatives of our online friends
Oh my gosh! I’ve gotten like that about stairs and heights. It’s driving me crazy
I’m sure I’ll still be fearful of storms. I don’t see it ever really going away.
Dude, don’t you know to get the hell out of wherever Jim Cantore is? ;P Love the pics! We had Mike Slidell here in Jax. Storm was pretty wicked.
http://youtu.be/5FJzKM7uhZU
But I have seen worse.
I DO know to get the hell out! But as it turns out, SSI got the least of the storm. I think y’all got it worse than we did. I forget you’re in JAX. When I visit my sis, I need to have coffee with you!
OMG, YES! When are you coming down next?!
I don’t know. Sometime this summer. Just don’t know when yet. I’ll let you know
Please do. I would love to get together!
That’s awesome, Jana. I love the “Please stay away from my vacations spot” lol. Seriously, though that was cool of him.
He should consider it a warning. Hear that, Jim Cantore?
Thats so neat! I’m glad you are enjoying your stay even though the weather hasnt been so great. You got to see Jim Cantore AND double rainbows! Thats pretty epic.
I think maybe the world would be a happier place if everyone walked around with I <3 Bacon shirts on.
Now if only Fred Couples would bring me a wedding gift, I’d be all set! See this post:
What a sweet post! Loved it. I like Jim Cantore – he IS the Weather Channel.
Kristin Shaw recently posted..I Can Wait
Another St. Simons story for the books!! I am so jealous!!
Semi-Slacker Mom recently posted..Semi-Slacker Mom’s Twelve Days of Christmas by Sassy
So many SSI stories… so little time!
Jana, I’m so jealous! I LOVE JIM CANTORE! Having always lived in the paths of hurricanes, Jim’s our hero. And also our cue to get the hell out! So glad to hear he’s as nice in person as he seems on air. And he IS hot!
Becki B recently posted..Tech Tuesday – Pop Phone
He was nice. Even on Twitter, he was nice. Also, hot
xoxo
The weather is really mysterious but interesting also. I fear from it but my feelings is not so bad. Rainbow gives me a great joy. Thanks for this nice post.
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That is so awesome! I would so love to see him in person. So jealous of you right now.
Mandi McClure recently posted..Impromptu, overnight trip to the mountains.
I *hate* tornadoes. So today I’m on high alert and every time I hear a car go by I think it’s the rumble of a tornado coming to rip my house apart and deposit me in my neighbor’s yard. But hurricanes I don’t mind. I start thinking about serving drinks and watching the tide rise.
And I’m mad jelly of your Jim Cantore sighting. Though I don’t want to see him during bad weather, either.
I drove down last year through that same crazy weather! We share some of the same phobias. I wrote about it here (commentluv isn’t working for me…http://titaniajordan.com/stormy-weather-obsession/). Your pictures are awesome. I’ll be happy when the warnings expire today.