Weather Predictions

Would life be better if every day was sunny?

There's a Nor'Easter coming. Our plans have been thrown into havoc. We were supposed to board a plane for home tomorrow, but it's doubtful anything will be landing in Rhode Island except one to two feet of snow.

Boo hoo. Poor us. We're stuck in Florida with family and friends who gathered to celebrate the wedding of two very young people who are stepping off the abyss into a life full of unknowns. I think we'll survive.

We arrived a week early to visit family in the Florida Keys and soak in some sunshine. As it turned out, the South was blanketed with an unusual cold front, coupled with extreme winds and rain. Our daughter Elizabeth and her boyfriend Ryan took time off from work to be with us.

Oh, I did pray to the weather Gods. I think they were busy cooking up a winter storm that would cover half the country.

Thankfully, we're New Englanders. We've sailed through plenty of cold weather and rain.

There were three decks of cards in our unit so we played a fierce tournament of triple solitaire. We bundled up on the deck to read stacks of books. When the sun came out, we pretended it was warm.

Our Florida family shook their heads in disbelief as we donned swimsuits and headed out to the sandbar during the slim slice of day when the skies cleared. It was still cold and windy, but heck, that doesn't mean you can't dance. Ryan and Elizabeth jumped right in and made the best of it.

I've spent the last few years writing about sailors who navigated the world during the Age of Sail, long before meteorologists could predict with any certainty what the weather might be. It turns out that it just doesn't matter. The only thing you can control is what you do when it arrives.

So dance.

Cynthia Elder is the author of the two-volume novel, Tales of the Sea. The Journey Begins and The Drumbeats of War are available in print, e-book and audiobook on Amazon and at select local bookstores, libraries and a wide range of audio platforms.

Join Cynthia at one of her upcoming events. If you'd like to invite Cynthia to speak for your organization (live or virtual), email cynthia@cynthiaelder.com.