Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 08:26:56 EDT From: PTemple001@aol.com To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3192$foo@default> Subject: Georges, el fin
Just a note to thank everyone for the Georges updates.
In reponse, maybe I can add a final (!) note.
The Dominican Republic was worst hit (Category 4) and several hundred people
died. As my wife is from there, we spent 5 terrible days wondering if her
family had survived without damage to life or property. Then they repaired
the phone lines over the mountain (Casabito) and we found the West (where her
family live) of Casabito had been spared. I dread to think whether Casabito
was damaged - if so, who knows if any P. casabitoana are now left. However,
hurricanes are a primary mechanism of plant dispersal in regions afflicted
with such storms and so, it is even possible that new colonies of this plant
have now been created.
Meanwhile, death is not a funny suject, but some people simply have a way with
dying. So, it falls to me to tell you that one bright spark in Dominica was
in the capital (Santo Domingo) when the storm hit. You can imagine it, really
dark, very noisy, very cold, enough to make anyone bored and uncomfortable and
of course anxious. What betyter than television to take your mind off the
problems. So "click" went the on swich followed by several minutes of violent
retuning as frustration with the signal reception grew and grew. Eventually,
the distraught man grew frustrated beyond his patience and decided he had to
fix the signal, while the hurricn blew and blew. So what did he do? It's
obvious, He did what anyone else would do (british form of hidden sarcasm
intended). He went to adjust his TV aerial, which was outside on his roof!!!
Well, we will not trouble ourselves with which tools he took with or what
trousers he wore. All that you need to know is that those brave enough to
watch through a window are now able to confirm that humans can indeed fly over
great distances and at very high speed. Regrettably, others can also testify
that humans are exceedingly poor at landing. I'm told that the amateur TV
aeirial installer's burial was a sad but quick activity as the cavity needed
for the remains was rather small so was dug and filled in quite quickly.
Fortunately, his relatives were able to see highlights of the funeral as
reception on their TV has been excellent since the storm passed!
Sorry to those who consider death sacrosanct. Me? I find the funniest things
are what happens in real life. And this was a real story.
Regards
Paul
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