It took foever, it seemed, to get back to a nearly normal state of things. The smaller trees blocking roads were removed first. The larger ones, including 75 year old oak trees, required cranes, and were moved weeks later. Power lines were replaced starting from near the power substation and working out from there.

I got used to the traffic lights along Western Blvd. not working. I think it was actually faster to drive across town without traffic lights. Drivers seemed very good at taking turns, or crisscrossing in complex patterns through intersections. If the traffic was backed up, you could be sure the police were directing traffic. At best, they were annoying.

It was all just phenomenal. What a powerful storm. The amazing power of nature, no matter the cliche it seems, was really something then.

I was surprised by some older neighbors who said that Hurricane Fran was worse than the one that we heard all the old-timers go on about for years. Namely, Hurricane Hazel. The big one, they used to say. Guess now we have stories to bore our kids and grandkids to tears with.

And something to write web pages about....

Is a picture worth a thousand words? You decide. More pictures follow.