Normal Life Grows On You -- Like Mold

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Published Friday, August 20, 2004

Normal Life Grows On You -- Like Mold

By Bill Bair

billbair1@...

Published Friday, August 20, 2004

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20040820/COLUMNISTS0501/408200384/1106/NEWS

Normal Life Grows On You -- Like Mold

LAKE WALES

The euphoria of having survived Hurricane Charley is starting to wear

off. Actually, it is being eaten away by mold and mildew.

For people living with plastic tarps on roofs or no roofs at all, 2.5

inches of rain in two nights isn't a case of adding insult to injury.

It's cruelty. We've got our leaks down to almost a manageable

trickle. I don't know how some others in this town can cope.

I normally have trouble growing things. I don't have a green thumb.

My yard demonstrates the theory of survival of the fittest. Only

plants that require no attention survive.

But when you dampen things inside a house in summertime Florida and

add heat, you create a mold and mildew farm. I do not want to be a

farmer.

Having electricity back is wonderful. We're trying to use the central

air conditioning to dehumidify.

We've already pitched one throw rug from the bedroom. We're still

trying to decide about the wall-to-wall carpet in the family room.

With the AC going, the odor of mildew seems to be lessening.

Electricity, which many still lack, makes a huge difference. It is

not only a way to cool off, but is a psychological boost.

For days, I automatically flipped the light switch each time I walked

into the bathroom, and realized that it was a stupid thing to do. But

each time I left the room, I automatically turned the switch off.

Now, simply hitting the switch and having light is a bonus.

And there are other large and small signs of improvement all around

us. The traffic signal is back up at U.S. 27 and Central Avenue.

Department of Transportation crews are installing new signs along the

highway. Businesses are slowly reopening, although the auto shop I

use still has no electricity, so I still can't get the pickup truck

fixed.

The massive influx of aid is beginning to have an impact.

Life will, somehow, return to normalcy.

As I write this, we're preparing to order pizza from Dominos.

Ordinarily, that would be no big deal. To be able to do it a week

after a major hurricane is huge.

Bill Bair can be reached at billbair1@....