In times of crisis, I think we tend to go on auto pilot. We tamp down feelings of fear and insecurity, and then slip into a mode of Get It Done. At least I know I do. This past week we had to deal with a hurricane bearing down on us. And you could almost feel the shift. Fight or Flight. Stay or Evacuate. Stock up on supplies, secure any outdoor furniture, cover the vintage with plastic (oh, just me?). After the crisis has passed, there’s usually a period of euphoria. Where the flowers smell sweeter and we are so appreciative of the things that we have.
Once the storm had passed, all of us try to settle back to our Normal. We find an equilibrium between palpable relief and gratitude and our day to day. We seek out our personal brand of creature comfort, relieved beyond words that our normal was there for us to go back to. And as I slipped into my comfort zone, in the form of a perfect floral dress from Victrola Vintage this morning, I realize these feelings aren’t just brought about by a hurricane. That we weather new storms every day. Some are just a bit bigger than others.
If you hadn’t been watching the news last week, Hurricane Dorian devastated Bermuda and took a sharp right at Florida, with her sights set on our beautiful coastline. Having lived through Hurricane Florence last year, I was truly not ready to go through all of that again. It’s hard to explain that feeling of fear and hopelessness. Leaving your home, hoping there would be something to return to. When the first report came in that Dorian was heading our way, my hands reached deftly into the past and brought those feelings to the forefront with impressive speed.
In a lot of ways you feel paralyzed. After you finish the list of preparations, most of what you’re doing is waiting. Waiting for good news or bad, trying to focus on tasks to distract you, but somehow hitting refresh on the NOAA website like a feverish lab rat. There was no certainty about anything, but we were beyond lucky this time. Waking up on the Morning After, blinking into the sunlight streaming through the trees, I realized just how much worse it could have been.
We spent the weekend clearing debris from the yard, sharing this year’s hurricane stories with our neighbors and friends, embracing the rush of relief. And I realized that this is kind of my new normal. Living where we live, every year there will be this kind of uncertainty. There is no guarantee when your home may be under threat. But, the endless calls and messages from loved ones checking in, the colleagues who would be on your doorstep in a moment’s notice, the friends who you meet for dinner the next day – this is the community we are building.
As cheesy as it sounds, I suppose they are how we weather the storm.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Victrola Vintage (similar modern & vintage here, here & here)
Belt: gift, Modern Millie (similar)
Handbag: vintage (similar here & here)
Shoes: Cecelia NY via Anthropologie
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