As I tore myself away from CNN to write this blog, a zipper across the screen reported that power would be restored in eastern Florida by this weekend and in western Florida by September 22nd. I reflected. That's about the length of time that it took to restore electricity to our home after Sandy. Empathy. "The capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within the other person's frame of reference, i.e., the capacity to place oneself in another's position." Being empathic is easier when we have lived through similar circumstances.

I knew if I wrote a blog about HRC, that it would be potentally polarizing. She brings up a lot of strong feelings in people. My reason for writing the blog becomes, then, more appropriate. I want to write about not caring what people think of me.

  We have family and friends in Florida.  We have family and friends in Texas.    

  We have family and friends in Florida.  We have family and friends in Texas.    

In the past, I would have followed the reporting of hurricanes, earthquakes etc. with a sense of empathy but, admittedly, also with a bit of apathy. In this world in which we are immediately connected to world events through the internet, it is easy to become a bit emotionally detached from world events.  

Last week I wrote of possibly starting over, technology-wise.   This week, an update of sorts.   Wednesday after attending a funeral for the dad of a friend with whom I play basketball, I powered up my phone and found an alert from the Manhasset Apple Store.  

As the folks in the Houston area are recovering, Floridians are bracing themselves. As I write this Hurricane Irma is just starting to hit the keys...see here. Apparently it hit Cuba and the wind speeds have descreased to only 130 mph and who knows where Jose will land.  

I have been mistaken or compared to the Dos Equis beer former pitchman-Most Interesting Man in the World and I have often cracked "I'm his stunt double". Draw your own conclusion from the above Photo.  Two weeks ago Debbie Lindner informed me that The Man was appearing at nearby Bottle Buys and urged me to go and meet him.  In preparation I googled him and learned that the actor portraying the original Most Interesting Man in the World is Jonathan Goldsmith and other interesting facts.