About the time we headed to Germany, our attentions were often diverted to news of a storm brewing in the Gulf.

It’s no longer news that Hurricane Helene became a monster and even though the eye of the storm was far west of us and landfall far north, she delivered a punch to Sarasota, specifically, Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armand’s Key and Siesta Key.

And she spent the night in our house in Sarasota last Thursday evening as an uninvited guest. She helped herself to what she wanted, and, believe me, she did not clean up after herself.

I knew there was trouble that night when I saw the water rising on our doorbell cameras. She didn’t ring though and I didn’t “press speak” to invite her in. She turned the power off so I no longer had eyes on her.

Thankfully our neighbors evacuated; the bridges were closed and streets were impassable for over 24 hours; but once allowed back in, the news was delivered. Our squatter had made her presence felt.

We are grateful to God for our many blessings. Although many friends are going through the same, all of our families are safe. Our good friends and neighbors came to the rescue yesterday starting to clean up after the party; get the AC back on; mop up the water; try to start the car, on and on. Angels. We are very grateful.

I’m not posting pictures of this because it’s rough, but it’s just a house. We are safe and we are blessed and we will figure this out.