The "I" Of The Storm- Hurricane Ian & Ivan Revisited

The eye of the storm is the area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone, often described as the "eye" of a hurricane, with high winds and heavy rain occurring around its perimeter. The term can also be used more broadly to refer to any period of relative calm amid chaos or turmoil.

The eye of the storm is often seen as a symbol of hope or resilience, as it represents the calm center amidst a chaotic and turbulent world. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope to cling to. The eye of the storm can also be seen as a metaphor for life itself, with its ups and downs, its periods of chaos and calm. No matter what life throws our way, we always have the potential to find something to learn from it and to grow stronger as a result.

We are all aware of the recent events of hurricane Ivan, as they decimated homes, businesses, and dreams. The hurricane made landfall at the cusp of being a category hurricane. The devastation in Florida was unimaginable, in the billions of dollars. However, the death toll was over 100 when I wrote this article. However, hurricane Ian was not content to stop there. The storm continued north, hitting Georgia and the Carolinas. In North Carolina, the outer banks were completely flooded.

Hurricane Ian reminds me of another "I," hurricane Ivan. Almost 20 years, I was a young, naive student heading off to medical school in Grand Cayman. I packed everything I valued and took them with me, even having family who accompanied me bring more suitcases of my possessions. I was excited to be starting my journey, in a new country, with unfamiliar faces. I bought a car in my first few days on the island. I remember it was a red civic honda hatchback. Within ten days of our arrival, our school made the wise decision to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. You see, I had only experienced snow storms s far as extreme weather went. I knew nothing of hurricanes. I remember one of the staff; his name will remain unnamed, saying, " we are chartering a flight to Miami for a day or two. We can go shopping and come back." Of course, I was naive, and the thought of shopping perked me up. I only took a few items with me because, as far as I was concerned, we were going to be away for a few days.?

The school charted flights to get the students out of Grand Cayman. I still remember the flight, it was choppy, and we had significant turbulence. Little did I know that just hours after our departure Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc on the Cayman Islands. It was a category 5, like Ian; homes were destroyed, businesses decimated, and the human and financial toll might not be fully known. Well, we didn't go back to the Cayman Islands for at least eight months, I believe. The island was in complete disarray, as were countless homes and businesses. At a young age, I learned what losing everything I owned was like. My loss pales compared to what millions of others have been through, but it was a loss nevertheless.?

Despite the tragic occurrence, I believe there will be some good. In every storm, there is a moment of relative stillness before the most challenging times come. Humans are resilient by design, and within each of us, there is potential power.?This is what we must remember when times are tough. We will get through this because we have to. And once we're on the other side, we'll be better for it. So, keep your head up. The storm may rage on for a while, but eventually, it will pass. And when it does, you'll be ready to rebuild your life better than before.

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