So much has happened during the past year–job, devastating hurricane, moving on two continents, quit job, and finally back on the island of St. Martin, but still not back in our Sint Maarten home.
You probably heard about the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma back in early September of 2017. She was the fiercest hurricane on record in the Atlantic and Caribbean. And she took aim at our Island of St. Martin and tore us to shreds. After six days of shelter at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC for short) we were evacuated to St. Kitt’s, where a sister veterinary school–Ross University–offered us shelter, a change of clothes, and medical attention for our pets. We spent two nights there before being further evacuated to O’Hare Airport and put up in two wonderful resorts–one week in one, five in another–while waiting for work visas to come through for (wait for it–) the U.K.
So many stories to tell, and they will come. However, I want to share the tangling I did while we still had power, even as roofing nails tore from the top of the house, and glass was curving and pulling out of sliding door frames.
These two were done as the storm raged over head. The tile below is one I tangled as the storm was merely anticipated.
Other tiles were lost to the water that eventually poured from our new glass-less skylights. Little seemed to survive the hurricane. We sat in our tiny kitchen with our next-door neighbors who rushed over during the calm hour-long eye–their home far worse than hours.
An hour or so after Irma moved on, security guards from AUC came looking for Professor Joe (my husband), and escorted us to the shelter of the school.
It was a while before I could tangle again. Aside from a lack of materials for the first few days (another story for another day), I simply was too shocked to do much except help where help was needed.
But more on the adventure in subsequent posts.
Wishing you health and safety,
Dr. Ellie, CZT
TangleSXM 