Tropical Storm

It rained a lot yesterday and the day before, which perturbed me greatly.  I came to the island for sun.  Sun!!  I can get rained on back home, for crying out loud.  But, I soothed my irritation by reminding myself that I will be working anyway so what does it matter?  Plus, the water is good for the cistern.  I'll take a long shower in the subsequent overabundance.

But then, the clinical care coordinator came to me this morning and matter-of-factly stated that she needed me to fill out the hurricane form.  

Excuse me?  

Yes, would you like to wait out the storm at the hospital?  

I'm sorry, what?

Apparently we are to be getting weather.  I really do need to start watching the news.  They've closed the schools today.  I am told that my landlord should board up the windows and move outside items inside.  And I should be sure that I have plenty of bottled water.  The people on the radio were all to quick to point out that hurricane season isn't over yet.  Thanks...  

I asked my usual charge nurse, Julie, if she will be working.  She will.  I asked her to keep me safe and reminded her that I came here for sunny weather.  She seems to think that I will live.

As a point of interest, I, as a nurse at the (government-run) hospital, am considered an essential employee and must stay on-island.  Or at least this is what they told me in orientation.  (I have been known to tend toward the gullible side...)  Now the situation isn't that panicky at the moment, but I wanted to point that tidbit out in case anyone was wondering how that works.  It's not like on the mainland where you can try to get people to move inland.  I guess it's not practical to vacate the entire island every time the wind blows.

Please think calm, unwindy, dry thoughts for me and I'll keep you updated.

-your island insider, Traveling Nurse Trish aka Tropical Storm Trish