"Why do we stand in awe of the power and immensity of the sea, the vast unknown reaches of the Universe, the beauty of the flower, the splendor of the sunset...... and at the same time downgrade ourselves? Did not the same Creator make us? Are we not the most marvelous creation of all, with power to think, experience and change our environment.... and love?
- Denis Waitley, Author "Seeds Of Greatness"
Laughing in the face of adversity.....
Last time I BLOG thingied I told you that a storm was brewing while I went to church on Sunday. Well, little did I know but it was the beginning of the remnants of a Tornado called Oswald which had caused a lot of damage and heartbreak on the Eastern Coast of Australia. I had heard a little about it coming down from up north but just thought it would fizzle out. Uh uh. Nope. It waited for me to get in my last rites at Sunday mass before giving me a BIIIIIG surprise when I got "home" to La Chateau Tento. This was a welcoming party like no other. My little Tento has been featured on National television. Only about 100 metres from the beach but nicely nestled into the rich green vegetation of the local sand dunes. Tento is only pretty small but I have learned from past experiences to buy 'army' type tents to handle the surprises that the elements are known to serve up. Elements like rats chewing through the walls of the tent looking for food leaving nice big holes for some of the most venomous snakes in Australia to have a clear passage in to snuggle up with me. Elements like flooding waters. Elements like sand storms. Elements like evil people with addiction problems 'raiding' the tent and stealing your supplies and damaging whatever they possibly can. Elements like a blazing sun trying to set fire to you, not just the tent. Oh yeah. The elements. Bring it on. Nothing to a seasoned bush hobo like Trigger. The man who is now hardened. The man without ego, without fear. The man who laughs in the face of danger. The man whose spiritual journey has prepared him for the very worst that life can throw at him. Trigger, the man with God on his side. The man who will let nothing get through his impenetrable armor of self-belief and trust.............. until now... (squeak.....)
..you there....anyone...hello, anyone
Let me paint a picture for you. Give you a bit of practice in creating a vision, huh? La Chateau is a three man army tent ( well sorta maybe kinda) on the top of a sand dune hill. Over time I have 'manoevered' the rich green vegetation so that it has grown around, over and even under the tent so that I am nicely camouflaged from prying eyes. On both sides of me I have tracks leading down to the beach. About 20 metres behind me there is a 'jogging' track for the public. But that's OK because I am quiet and clean and all that I do is read..... and sleep, read..... and sleep! To make thingies a little more comfortable I have tarpaulins strategically placed over and in front of the tent (army green of course). So I have had lots of 'moments' but they have given me EXPERIENCES. They have taught me lessons in life. But NOTHING could prepare me for this..........
When I 'checked in' just after lunch the winds were stronger than in the morning before I left so I 'battened down the hatches'. The wind was bringing with it the sand from the beach and it was just beginning to rain....big time. So I got into La Chateau and IT started.........
The winds picked up intensity. The rain mixed with sand was hitting me but I was protected. Oooooh what a good book. What storm, I smiled. IT got angry. Very ANGRY. It was pummeling down during the afternoon and there was a lot of noise outside. I wanted to get some hot water for a cuppa but...... uh uh. No way (squeak). As night closed in I realized that I needed batteries for my torch. No light to read. Oh shoot!
So I lay there in the dark ALL NIGHT listening to the tornado try to eat me up. Water was getting in through the rat holes and wet sand was covering the tent completely but the intensity of the tornado had gone to a new level. I was uncomfortable but all was cooool, but wet. A few prayers to try to get some sleep. But this was a MONSTER. This was the NEGOB of all NEGOBS. If it was trying to scare me it was gaining credibility.
Then SMAAAAASH. This was when I began to poop in my (very wet) panties. The overhead tarpaulin had been ripped from its foundations and, complete with wet sand, was smashing into the tent. Oh oh. Trouble. I had to go outside and secure it or pull the whole thing down.
A couple of Hail Marys and out into the unknown I went. The wind was pushing the tarp so hard into the front of the tent that at first I couldn't even unzip the front door thingie. I pushed outside. Aaarrggmm, that was something I will NEVER forget. The first hurt was the wet sand hitting every part of me with the aid of the 100 kph+ cyclonic winds. Then seemingly every single plant between me and the beach hit me all at once. Being insane of course I laughed and screamed at the motherfuder that I wasn't ready to go yet. I had a story to tell. Huh. Cop that...........
It hit me with the second tarp. It was wrapped completely around me while I secured the first tarp overhead. I would have loved a polaroid snap of me at the time. it would have been hilarious! Anyway after about I suppose an hour or so I finally got back into the tent after scraping off layers and layers of sand and wiped myself down with a wet towel. Then I waited. I was pretty sure that a flying 'missile', a tree or some other body was going to get me. And so I prayed, as I do, not in fear of my life but because if I was to be taken I had to BE with God. THAT was how bad it was. It continued on like that all night and into the next day. When I ventured out the storms were still severe. I tried to do a little filming on my phone but it was difficult. I finally got some hot water for a cuppa and went back and weathered the storm so to speak.
This morning I saw the destruction. It was like the desert. Wet sand had just covered the entire vegetation. Trees were down everywhere. La Chateau was just covered in sand. The tarps were down and there was not one green leaf or fern around me. All that stood out was the La Chateau Sand Sculpture. I could have easily "gone" and was stupid to be there. But I always believed that it was not my choice as to whether I stayed or left. I stayed. And now, by Working Backwards, I have another great EXPERIENCE for my..........
The winds picked up intensity. The rain mixed with sand was hitting me but I was protected. Oooooh what a good book. What storm, I smiled. IT got angry. Very ANGRY. It was pummeling down during the afternoon and there was a lot of noise outside. I wanted to get some hot water for a cuppa but...... uh uh. No way (squeak). As night closed in I realized that I needed batteries for my torch. No light to read. Oh shoot!
So I lay there in the dark ALL NIGHT listening to the tornado try to eat me up. Water was getting in through the rat holes and wet sand was covering the tent completely but the intensity of the tornado had gone to a new level. I was uncomfortable but all was cooool, but wet. A few prayers to try to get some sleep. But this was a MONSTER. This was the NEGOB of all NEGOBS. If it was trying to scare me it was gaining credibility.
Then SMAAAAASH. This was when I began to poop in my (very wet) panties. The overhead tarpaulin had been ripped from its foundations and, complete with wet sand, was smashing into the tent. Oh oh. Trouble. I had to go outside and secure it or pull the whole thing down.
A couple of Hail Marys and out into the unknown I went. The wind was pushing the tarp so hard into the front of the tent that at first I couldn't even unzip the front door thingie. I pushed outside. Aaarrggmm, that was something I will NEVER forget. The first hurt was the wet sand hitting every part of me with the aid of the 100 kph+ cyclonic winds. Then seemingly every single plant between me and the beach hit me all at once. Being insane of course I laughed and screamed at the motherfuder that I wasn't ready to go yet. I had a story to tell. Huh. Cop that...........
It hit me with the second tarp. It was wrapped completely around me while I secured the first tarp overhead. I would have loved a polaroid snap of me at the time. it would have been hilarious! Anyway after about I suppose an hour or so I finally got back into the tent after scraping off layers and layers of sand and wiped myself down with a wet towel. Then I waited. I was pretty sure that a flying 'missile', a tree or some other body was going to get me. And so I prayed, as I do, not in fear of my life but because if I was to be taken I had to BE with God. THAT was how bad it was. It continued on like that all night and into the next day. When I ventured out the storms were still severe. I tried to do a little filming on my phone but it was difficult. I finally got some hot water for a cuppa and went back and weathered the storm so to speak.
This morning I saw the destruction. It was like the desert. Wet sand had just covered the entire vegetation. Trees were down everywhere. La Chateau was just covered in sand. The tarps were down and there was not one green leaf or fern around me. All that stood out was the La Chateau Sand Sculpture. I could have easily "gone" and was stupid to be there. But I always believed that it was not my choice as to whether I stayed or left. I stayed. And now, by Working Backwards, I have another great EXPERIENCE for my..........
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