If the calendar year had a purgatory, it would be August. . . This month holds the unceremonious rite of passage each summer that includes the metaphorical wringing of our hands of the heat & humidity, prior to autumnal cooling. Some wisenheimer once cracked that all good things must come to an end, but when your t-shirt becomes an outtake of SpongeBob Square Pants, one tends to see the departure of summer as a much-needed respite. Each year in August, gazes of trepidation abound over the Atlantic by those spending time on Tybee, or another comparable coastal, subtropical locale that shares proximity to exposure from westward storms arriving from the Caribbean. Inevitably, we find ourselves at the conclusion of another season of accommodating thousands of our closest friends over the last 5-6 months, only to find a gathering storm approaching. Like tax shelters and casino boat operations, hurricanes originate offshore, in international waters, are void of any foreign sovereignty, do not comply with rules, adhere to signage, City ordinances, and leave more trash than actual tourists. If not for precipitation and destruction, these attributes may be deemed favorable to our current administration. Hurricanes are storms with an uncanny manner of unpredictability, which is why at one time the male-dominated meteorology industrialists would only make these weather systems identifiable by naming them after women. It’s unclear if this was due to these guys having issues with women’s liberation, or if they just knew plenty of actual women, but for what it’s worth, I’ll let the reader decide (as this isn’t an advocacy publication). Nevertheless, for all of our notoriety regarding southern hospitality - we don’t take kindly to hurricanes coming ashore unlike the rolling caravans of minivans, RVs, and ‘rolling Craft Services wagons’ that bring family conquistadors ashore from the rear of our island throughout the year. Whereas, the welcomed parade of ‘family-trucksters,’ and ‘weekend warriors’ that bring an influx of good tidings in pursuit of creating lasting memories – these storms have other ideas. Nevertheless, if you find yourself staring down the barrel of one of these culprit hurricanes, whether named for a lady, man, your spouse, or a name derived from a culture you had no knowledge of existence … know that hurricanes mean business. As any local will tell you, our little island paradise came into this understanding firsthand, almost a year ago – and we’d prefer to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our livelihoods intact (on most days). One interesting takeaway heard from many who found themselves camped/visiting, working, and living on Tybee during Matthew Mayhem was the perspective found with one’s loved ones circled close, waiting out the storm together, and arriving anew back on the island to rebuild something worthwhile. In the aftermath of the storm, another interesting dynamic developed that should also be noted, understood, respected, and cherished. While we enjoy marching to the beat of our own drummer, as a community we have gained the respect of the other music-makers that share our island. There’s really no amount of money, work, or service that can substitute for a population that knows and respects itself! 38 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | AUG 2017 Science tells us that all lifeforms must evolve, or perish. Yet, this takes time and if there is one thing that the folks on Tybee understand it’s that land is at a premium, and that ‘time’ stopped production long ago - so we’ve all got what we’ve all got. Hence, the art of making the most from both of these becomes a paramount priority … and as agreed upon by even our harshest critics, Tybee makes this an art form! One of our dear Tybee friends, George Hassell, is going through a very rough time. Currently in ICU at Memorial Hospital recovering from a partial leg amputation, George has a long road ahead of him with physical therapy and paying for treatments, prosthesis and other medical bills. Doc’s Bar is hosting a Generosity for George benefit on Saturday, August 12th at 4:00pm. Along with a 50/50 raffle and raffles for Baskets of Cheer, Jason Courtenay will be playing. Please come by and show your support for one of our own. From the RIVER’S END... By Woody Hemphill Generosity for George Hassell Benefit
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