My situation is almost a miracle in the midst of the disastrous scenarios that many of my friends, colleagues and clients have experienced in the northeast. It has been an extraordinary time, and it's far from over.
If you live outside of the area, please be patient with us as we try to return to some semblance of normalcy. If you live here, be kind to yourself and to each other. A little kindness goes a long way in a sea of frustration and impatience.
Everyone has seen the horrific scenes in the aftermath of the storm, but what you might not see is the reality of everyday life.
No power plus no school results in families who are used to staying busy
with myriad electronic devices that need charging. Board games? Huh?
If you have a gas stove, you can cook, but you don't have refrigeration.
And, it's getting colder inside homes with no heat.
Cell towers are damaged. People compete to drive through intersections where traffic lights don't work. And even though many people who have electricity are trying to work from home, it's hard to do if your servers are down and you can't connect to your network.
What a reminder that in our era of supercomputing, wireless connectivity and virtual-everything, life can grind to a halt. Our infrastructure was designed for a different era, and repairing and rebuilding it must now take into account not only the sophistication of technology, but the vagaries of weather.
Everyone is subject to these freak episodes, but as this is the third "once in a lifetime" event in 14 months (Hurricane Irene last August and a freak snowstorm exactly a year ago), I'm paying attention with entirely fresh eyes.
My advice for those who are affected in the aftermath? Do something that makes you feel normal. It doesn't matter how mundane it is; it will give you hope for the days ahead.
Hang in there, and have a great week!
Paul and the gang at AARC host agency
PS
I want to thank all our agents and suppliers, who called and sent us emails with well wishes and prayers. We apprecated all the love and support you offered. If you can, please donate what you can to the Red Cross. They are doing a fantastic job of providing food and shelter to those in need.