Stay Tuned to This Space for Reunion Details!
How to Post Your Reunion Announcement
VIEW ALL REUNIONS

Class News

Today's Featured Biography

 
Janet Ann SHAW Ames

11/13/2012

Dottie,

Here’s a letter from Janet Shaw Ames who lives in NJ, her husband practices medicine in NYC And went to school with us! Thought you might like to hear about the storm’s impact on them.

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 11:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Hello again

Dear Shirley,

It's been a while since chatting with you because we've been without electricity, phone and heat since Sandy blew into town on October 27. We shivered, even with multiple layers of clothing, and burned countless candles until Thursday, November 11th. We let out a shout of joy when the electricity was turned on. Soon after, we could feel heat in our bones.

This was the worst hurricane ever. Albeit our house was not damaged, a lot of giant maples and oaks fell on neighboring roofs. Practically all roads were blocked by toppled trees which downed the power and phones lines. Rit had to stay home because all mass transit was cancelled until Thursday, November 1. When he finally managed to get to his office on 57th Street, he found the building was evacuated. He wasn't allowed inside. His patients weren't allowed inside. A huge crane, atop a nearby skyscraper, was damaged by Hurricane Sandy and was precariously dangling overhead. If it fell, it would have cracked the gas lines under the street and caused a major explosion. Fortunately, the crane is now dismantled. All is well.

Here, all the restaurants and food stores were closed because of lack of power. When a few markets reopened, all the produce, meat and dairy aisles were empty due to lack of refrigeration. So, we supped on lukewarm canned soups and stews ineffectively heated over the flames of the hearth. We really needed your food bank. A few more days and our cupboard would have been bare.

Two churches had heat and electricity. They served as warming centers and a place where folks could recharge their cell phone batteries. The Catholic church was open 24 hours and had cots for folks who wanted to sleep overnight. We preferred to stay home and sleep under multiple quilts. It was bone-chilling cold when we got out of bed. Roosevelt Hospital has its own generators, so Rit was warm during the day. I raked leaves and picked up debris as it was warmer outside than in the house.

Monday, November 5, the library reopened. I stayed there most of the day to keep warm. So did the crowd. The computers were in great demand so I had a long wait time before being able to send an abbreviated note to Patty and Brian. Until heat was restored in our home, the library was my favored nesting place. Got lots of reading done. I read Longfellow's "Courtship of Miles Standish" and could relate to the harsh conditions under which the Pilgrims lived. If Miles Standish, Priscilla and John Alden could survive the cold and lack of food, so could we. This year, Thanksgiving dinner will taste better than ever.

Halloween was cancelled, of course, because power lines with live wires were down. Plus, it was difficult to go trick or treating door-to-door when downed trees blocked the sidewalks. But, happy to say, the children did have their Halloween celebration last Sunday afternoon. All the school children gathered at Willard's playground to play games and receive treats from their parents.

Most gas stations were closed, too. Guess the pumps need electricity to function. Those few which were open had huge lines of cars waiting for gas. Plus, a lot of people needed jugs of gas to operate their own private generators or outdoor gas grilles.

Fortunately, there was no flooding. However, friends of ours, who live on Long Island, are still bailing out their basement. Alas. We hope Daniel and Shae, Debbie and Chris came through the hurricane unscathed, but chances are they also felt the effects of this storm.

We hope you and Sweetie Pie had sunny, mild weather during the east coast's upheaval. Take care and keep warm. Wishing you a delightful day.
Love, Janet

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES

U.S. Armed Forces

Class Poll

Featured Links

Visit Other Classes