Carolinas won’t let weather dampen resiliency

Another week of cloudy skies and another week of rain in the books. Last week was influenced by the tail end of Hurricane Florence coming through the Delaware Valley. But, before we even think of complaining, our thoughts should focus on the plight of the people in the Carolinas dealing with the horrific flooding that will continue to adversely affect their lives for days, weeks … and in some cases, many months to come.

And this is on top of Hurricane Matthew that hit much of the same area two years ago, causing catastrophic loss of lives, property and revenue.

Remember, much of that area depends heavily on tourism dollars. When the hurricanes come rolling in, the tourists move out. And, in many cases, they don’t return.

But don’t expect the people in places like Hilton Head Island, Charleston, Myrtle Beach or Wilmington, North Carolina to be wallowing in pity. They are too busy picking themselves up by their bootstraps and returning to normal as quickly as possible.

Their theme song should be the Frank Sinatra classic, “That’s Life.” Especially the verse: I’ve been up and down and over and out And I know one thing Each time I find myself flat on my face

I pick myself up and get back in the race. That’s Life. Having been to these areas so many times, in the wake of these natural disasters – going all the way back to Hurricane Hugo in 1989 – I have learned to appreciate the resilient nature of the people. They live, work and rebuild with a quiet resolve.

They firmly believe in the old saying, “What does not kill you, makes you stronger.”

BY KEN BLEVINS/THE STAR-NEWS VIA AP A man paddles through the neighborhood as Hurricane Florence leaves a trail of flooded roads, broken trees and downed power lines across Leland, N.C.