We love to see our
younger set put pen to paper, or in this modern world, crank up the
computer to express their thoughts.
Eleven-year-old Marisa Leal, whose Mom, Pam
Leal, teaches yoga at MBS, wrote this article on how she weathered
Hurricane Frances. I had to edit the piece for brevity’s sake, but
the essence is all Marisa’s!—Lynn Allison
Rain pouring down, wind howling. It was a
sound that will echo in my mind forever. Although we at Parkland
didn’t get the brunt of the storm, we still suffered damage. For me,
it was also emotional.
Stuck in my grandmother’s home—since my own
family didn’t have hurricane shutters—my patience soon wore thin. I
felt trapped and shuttered, desperately seeking a way out. Maddie,
the youngest of us four sisters was always crying up a storm.
Bailey, who is eight and my twin, Paige, were always fighting on who
played “Brandy and Mr. Whiskers Egg Hunt” next. After 24 hours of
captivity, I was becoming neurotic and secretly wishing that the
mall would open.
I needed saving, not from Frances but from
myself.
Frances finally passed. We saw downed trees,
power lines and traffic lights. Not bad compared to the things
people in St. Lucie County suffered.
I learned a lot about myself during this
hurricane season, and not all of it was pretty. I learned a lesson
in patience and also how lucky we are to have a caring family,
fights and all.
