Throughout the years of writing these newsletters, I’ve often shared my love for the summer months and all the activities that occurred during that time of the year. While my father loved the fall, I wasn’t nearly as enamored with it as the fall brought to a close my favorite time of year and was the precursor to the harsh winter weather yet to come. Having moved to Florida twenty-five years ago from New York, I felt God gave me a reward to enjoy the season I loved most on a year-round basis. Like many, I envisioned myself boating, golfing, and going to the beach whenever I wanted. What better way to enjoy the quality of life I always dreamed of? As for hurricanes, what hurricanes? I encountered them before; how much worse could they be in Florida if we ever did get one?

It was September 2001, and we were in our home for a year when we encountered our first storm. Not having the sophisticated meteorologist and radar we have today, I noticed it was getting breezy and had no idea what was on its way. A friend of mine said, “Are you ready for Gabrielle?” I replied, “We never met; who is she?” Sensing my ignorance, my friend replied, “Get ready; you’ll meet her in a few hours.” Little did I realize I would be trading in hors d’oeuvres for hours trying to lower the Bahama shutters we had. That was nature’s way of spoon-feeding me the storms that were yet to come.

Having lived on the water most of my life, I vividly recollect Hurricanes Agnes and Gloria years later impacting Long Island, where yachts of all sizes were strewn over the island beaches. While it was a very sobering reminder of man’s weakness in contrast to nature’s strength, those experiences paled by comparison to the destructive forces we’ve encountered since moving to Florida 25 years ago.

It seems like yesterday when Hurricane Charlie impacted our area, and we stood in disbelief, seeing many of our homes and communities lying in ruin. I initially thought this was something we were only supposed to see on TV, not experience first-hand, as camera crews, National Guard troops, Florida’s Governor Jeb Bush, and other responders descended on our area. It was also our first encounter with the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore, who, after all these years of visits to our area, may want to consider a permanent residence! Perhaps it is like a boxer getting a punch that sends him to the canvas but has the heart and desire to pick himself back up to continue the fight, and that is what we did.

Since then, we have encountered a host of other hurricanes and tropical storms, including the recent back-to-back hurricanes of Helene and Milton, and through it all, I am overwhelmed by the resiliency of our community, our neighbors, and our restaurant and store owners who have picked up the pieces and are forging ahead.

I have found that through these storms, there are many life lessons to be learned. Unfortunately, there will always be those who plan for Armageddon and clear out store shelves of the basic necessities or take enough gas to get them to the moon and back, never considering the needs of others. For most of us, they are a sobering reminder of what is important in life. We have built stronger bonds with friends, neighbors, and loved ones in their time of need. We’ve given our time and treasures to help our communities recover and supported the local businesses that have served us so well throughout the years. There was never a thought of repayment for our efforts, we were in this together.

We all get wrapped up in our day-to-day lives where we count on tomorrow to get together with friends or make the call that is long overdue. I’m as guilty as it seems, like years pass like months and weeks pass like days, only to have these storms put life in a different perspective. My most vivid reminder of the importance of our relationships was during Hurricane Charlie. Since we were all without power, we came out of our homes seeking relief from the heat and humidity inside and found ourselves catching up with friends and neighbors for the first time in months. Unfortunately, once power was restored, we returned to our homes and resumed our way of life, where we offered a simple wave as we passed.

Some may feel it is time to turn the page and start a new chapter in their lives where these storms no longer take a physical and emotional toll on them, while others feel the quality of life Florida affords more than offsets the infrequent storms that impact our areas. To me, the lessons are learned from the pause we are forced to take during our efforts to recover.

We often think of Thanksgiving and the holidays that follow as the time of year to give thanks for the blessings we’ve received. It is also the start of a season that beckons us to be more compassionate and giving to our loved ones. While the holidays are full of promise and merriment, the storms we endure create lasting bonds, almost like those that have served together in war. We set aside our differences and give of ourselves in service to others. Isn’t that what a life well lived is supposed to be about? Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a storm to get us back on track and bring out the best in us.

While the aftermath of these storms has left many of our streets looking like Spooky Walks littered with debris and ghost-like ships that occupy some of our area parks, the appearance of Halloween costumes and soon-to-be Christmas decorations are our reminder of the enjoyment we receive from these simple pleasures life affords us. However, our recovery together, especially this year, has created a more robust community bond far more valuable than anything we could have imagined.

-Gary Cardillo