Well here we are on the other side of Isabel and all I can say is that I'm glad it's over.

Except that it isn't, really. In so many ways, it's just begun.

See, we got off so lucky here. The winds were in the upper 80s or low 90s, but miraculously nothing large came down on the house (some of our neighbors were not as lucky). Poquoson, just two miles from here was flooded worse than anyone can remember. Worse than the August '33 storm.

Man.

Our power was out for several days and we had no landline or cell service, but you know - we were just fine thanks to good preparation and pure dumb luck.

But the cleanup is only now beginning for so many folks. My in-laws, for example. They had three huge oak trees come through the house, their waterline cut and of course no phones or power. Thank goodness they weren't there during the storm.

No thanks to the folks at the Quality Inn Lord Paget in Williamsburg, though. They lost power in the height of the storm and KICKED EVERYONE OUT. INTO A HURRICANE. That's of course after the article about how wonderful the hotel was for offering to put up local folks who lived in dangerous areas. So they kicked everyone out just as things were getting really scary. Out into 90 mph winds. May they rot in hell.

Luckily, my in-laws made it to a safe haven (albeit one with no power)and rode the storm out. But what greeted them the next day... my god. I've not seen anything like it. The house is condemned now, but it looks as though they'll be able to move back in. Someday.

All I can say though is that I am so releived that everyone is safe. Most folks only had minor damage and like my friend Anneliese says, 95% of everything you have can be replaced. But the people can't.

Much to do tonight. We're fine. In fact we feel guilty for having water and power and phones and a roof.

So many folks don't.