Sunday, October 23, 2005

10:45am…After standing in line for 4 hours last night, I finally got a shower somewhere around 1:00AM or shortly thereafter. We were escorted out the front of the convention center and to a row of rooms that had been prepared for us to use for showering. They initially started by pulling numbers from a hat, and after the first 9 names were pulled it was decided that this was an idiotic way of getting the job done, since we had already pulled numbers at random when we were in line earlier in the evening. Every time they would pull a number and announce it, the “winner” would scream with joy and the whole crowd would yell for the person as though they had just won the GA lottery. Then some woman kept screaming at the top of her lungs to “SHUT UP”. It was madness. Finally after multiple yells and demands, they decided to stop pulling numbers from a hat and just take in order by low to high starting with the first 50, then 51-100 and so on. I nearly fell asleep waiting for my group to be called. I was lucky enough to end up with number 397. The wind and rain blew so hard, I had to be held by a man as I walked between the convention center and the room I showered in. After coming back to the hall we are sleeping in, I had a hard time going to sleep. My hair was dripping wet from the walk in the rain back, and the overwhelming odor of mold and mildew coming from the soaked brae-lock covered concrete walls was nauseating. Gloria finally came back from her shower and had the same problem….not able to sleep. We both took a pill to help and she went to the lobby to read her book. She returned around 3:30am to find me asleep.

This morning she awakened me with the announcement of coffee. I had to go get it. After breakfast, they allowed us to go outside. Only this time, we were allowed to walk out further than we had been permitted before. Some of the damage from the storm was very clear to see. I took pictures of everything I could get. The wind has died down tremendously and the rain comes in waves. Now and then the wind blows stronger and the wind comes again. They are finally opening doors to the hall. The freight doors have been raised and there is at last some cleaner fresh air blowing through the hall. People applauded when they pulled open the second door. It reminds me of Noah and the Ark. I expect a dove to come flying in with an olive branch.

12:00pm We still have no idea how long we’ll be in here. The state inspectors are slow in coming and we are on a waiting list. I have been told that the reason the hotel made everyone check out was so they would not be responsible for us….we are now the responsibility of government of Mexico. There is still no contact with the outside and we are getting what little information we are receiving from a radio someone has. The power and phone lines are down all the way from here to Playa Del Carman. This means we will be without power and phone service indefinitely. The lagoon and the ocean here are now one. The area just 4 days ago that Gloria and I sunbathed is gone. They tell us the hotel has take serious damage and it’s possible we may be in here for days to come. They tell us not to crowd the lobby area, but do not come into the hall we’re in to make announcements here where we can hear. We have to make out what new we can through people that are in the lobby area and hear the news.

I was told by another guest that they announced the hurricane has left this country, made it’s way into the Gulf and stalled out for 8 hours before turning and going toward Cuba. We are still getting high winds and rain and will for some time to come. Some are talking about getting a van and heading to Belize to try and catch a flight home from there.

I have been trying to get logged back onto the internet and have had no luck. A few minutes ago while trying to log on, I was able to connect to the server and the login page even came up for the first time in days. With my excitement, I forgot the logon information and took off running to the hall where Gloria was to get the password. A couple watched my computer until I returned and by the time we found the number and returned to the computer, a group of people were coming up asking if I had gotten logged on. The first person that finally makes a connection is going to get mobbed by the crowd. People are coming up to me asking if I’m logged on. I am so glad I found electrical outlet power in the lobby….otherwise, this laptop would have died long ago and this journal would be now written on any piece of paper I might be able to find.

2:25…I have been outside for some light and fresh air. There are helicopters flying overhead. There are now breaks in the clouds and the sun is shining through. We are told that there is damage to rooms on both the bottom and second levels. I have seen broken glass even in the third level windows. People have become bored to the point of doing anything at all they can find to entertain themselves. Mostly eating. That seems to be the one thing we have enough of. Food. For now, anyway. I wonder how long it will actually last. We’ve already been in there longer than they expected we would. I am surprised the generators are still running and we still have lights. I have a growing list of email addresses people are bringing me and asking me to email their families if and when I get logged into the web. I think for now, I will give up and go get something to eat. The long line is much shorter now..

In an effort to bring some level of “normalcy”, the maids have placed flowers in the ladies’ rooms around the sinks.

4:19pm…the choir is singing in Atlanta without me. I hope Monica made it and got her photos set up to look nice. I hate, more than anything, that I am missing this concert and art show. I looked so very forward to this. I worked so hard before this storm while here in Cancun to learn my music and memorize the words. I will sing along with them in my mind and hope that they put on an awesome show! I hope Monica has plenty of support there with her. I wish I could know what is happening there.

The people here are beginning to loose all dignity. Half dressed men are walking around, as are women with no shoes and no makeup on. One woman just walked past me with nothing on but a towel wrapped around her. Earlier, I saw a pair of men’s briefs lying across the back of a chair drying. It’s getting hotter out here now, and I’m going to get some fresh air.

6:02….I guess the concert is over back home, and Monica’s photo exhibit is down by now. I hope it went well. I couldn’t help but think about the concert and art show/sale all afternoon today. I very much wanted to be there. I miss Monica and Ben very badly right now. I hope they know that I am alright.

While charging my laptop in the lobby, people began coming up to me asking me to email their families when and if I get an internet connection. I have quite a list of names to send emails to now. Because I sat there for so long typing and watching the outlets and plugs and helping people coordinate the loaning of each other’s power charge cables, people started thinking I was someone of authority and nick named me “the keeper of the power”, and “power woman”. Haha!

I’m ready for another shower and I don’t know when one will come again. The sun came out this afternoon and the sky began to clear up. There is a cool breeze blowing and the air smells sweet. Really SWEET. I jokingly said it smelled like “oreo” cookies. And it does. I wonder where the hurricane is now. Inside the hall is smelling of mildew and mold. People are waking up with stuffy noses, coughing at night and sinus problems in addition to headaches. I believe the damp wet smell and mildew is getting to people.

The young couples around us are content to play cards and have little concern for how they will return home