“To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves.”
~ Carrie Chapman Catt
I began tracking tropical storms in 1995, the year of our devastating Hurricane Marilyn, which came on the footsteps of Hurricane Luis. 1995 saw 21 named storms, and this year 2013, has the same naming sequence (outside of those names that have been retired). ’95 had a Chantal as well, which formed on July 12.
My friend & weatherman Dave McDermott called this Chantal “defiant!!” “And a warning shot across our bow this season.” She didn’t leave even a drop of rain as of yet here on St. Thomas, but she has our defenses up early. Which is a good thing.
Between 1995 and now, there’s been 306 named storms. I’ve watched and/or tracked a vast majority of these buggers. And what’s always fascinating about the little guys, is that they seem impervious to the larger atmospheric conditions. It’s almost like they have a mind of their own, and they follow the path of least resistance (hence my quote today).
Right above St. Thomas lay a band of 30 mph wind shear. Chantal ducked neatly under it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she stays over the open water, and skirts along the coast of the Dominican Republic (instead of going over mountains), and through the open waters on up into Florida.
Thinking about the path of least resistance sparked memories of my favorite poet, Robert Frost. I hand wrote his poem “A Prayer in Spring” years ago, framed it, and gave it to my Grandmother as a gift. My Mom still has it hanging in their bathroom. As I thought of it, I was filled with such love for my Grandmother, as though she was sitting right there next to me. Another beautiful benefit of meditation 🙂
But it was Frost’s poem “A Road not Taken”, thinking of Chantal, and watching the frigate birds soaring effortlessly in the breeze this morning that ran through my mind …
So I share it with you today, hoping it fills you with a deep sense of love too! And may the path of least resistance be shown to you, as you need it ❤
—————
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
