déja vu all over again

[lizziebelle]

where I usually park, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

Silly me. I assumed (never assume, I should know this) that since I hadn't heard anything, I should go into work. Just like the day after the tornado.

OMG, it's just awful out there. Trees, limbs, and branches down *everywhere*, including right in the road. Power lines in the road, too. No power anywhere in East Longmeadow, or half the places I passed through. The one open gas station I passed here in town had a line that reminded me of the early 70's; at least a dozen cars in the street waiting to get in. No power also meant no stoplights, so each intersection was tricky to get through. Most people treated them like four-way stop signs, which is good, but some people had no patience and barreled through.

Half (at least) of the roads I traveled were down to one lane in places due to bits of tree blocking the way. All the melting yesterday produced some wicked icy patches. It was harrowing.

After finding nothing open in the vicinity, I headed for home. I had to take at least one detour due to a closed section of road. Police cars were blocking several other roads.

I still have no TV, but I am very grateful that I have power and internet. Hundreds of thousands aren't so lucky.

In some ways, this is worse than the tornado because it's so widespread. Not as damaging in each instance, but over more area. Huge areas. Much of Massachusetts and Connecticut are just closed today.

It was just heartbreaking to see so many damaged trees. All those huge old oaks in Longmeadow, in pieces on the ground. Birches bent right over, some of them snapped off. That gorgeous willow by the funeral home, broken off at the top.

I might venture out later, after it warms up a bit. There's no answer at the library, so I have no idea if they're open, or just busy.

I feel badly for all the kids, whose Halloween has been spoiled. There's talk of having trick-or-treat later in the week, but somehow it doesn't seem the same if it's on a different day.

This has been the weirdest year ever!