My 98-year-old movie pal, Jack, and I have long spent Saturday afternoons enjoying classic films. A recent Saturday was no different. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn starred in the first movie, followed by the laugh-out-loud comedy, Some Like It Hot. As the afternoon progressed, I heard a loud crack of thunder. I pulled back the curtain and saw the darkness — the rain pouring down, and the wind was howling. Here in the mid-South, it’s amazing how quickly the weather can change. 

Glancing at my security camera app, I discovered my home was without power. As wind and rain battered the neighborhood, I realized that Ava, my loyal mixed-breed canine companion, was home alone in the dark. I needed to head home immediately. I wished Jack well, grabbed my sack of uneaten popcorn, and headed home. That was no easy task. The winds were topping 70 miles per hour, branches were flying off trees and striking cars and roads. Several minutes into the trek home, a large tree had been uprooted and fallen onto the road, blocking traffic. Cars had pulled to the roadside, their flashers warning other drivers. I still had about 10 minutes until I got home. I gripped the wheel and pressed toward home. Once there, I ran inside, only to find Ava quite relaxed in her bed, probably wondering why I made such a commotion upon arrival.