Today I went to LBI to retrieve four of my paintings that miraculously survived Hurricane Sandy in Swell Colors, a Glass Studio and Gallery in Haven Beach. Mary Tantillo, the owner and glass artist, told of the destruction within her gallery. The large heavy workbench had floated in the four feet of seawater within and had smashed the front window and the wind had blown the door open.
This was the first time I went to the south end of the island. All along the boulevard were businesses being emptied of their contents or contractors working on their restoration.
I drove around past all the places where I had stopped to paint in previous years since they all have special memories. Some were almost unrecognizable and others were damaged but less so. The damage increases as you head south. When I got to Holgate there was a sign stating only residents and contractors were allowed to go further. I really just wanted to check on the fisherman's cottage, built in the 1920's, that sits right on the bay. I love to just look at it. It would be a perfect studio for a painter like me. Heeding the sign, I did not see it today.
My heart was heavy. I decided to go back to Beach Haven, to the lifeguard house, to see the ocean and beach which usually lifts my spirit. Benches sit in front of the twisted building with damaged doors and windows. There was yellow caution tape surrounding the building. I walked past the building and climbed to the top of the large piles of sand and stood looking down to the sea which was flatter than I had ever seen it. Not even a breaker just flat, licking the sand. As I looked out I thought how could this calm have turned so ugly and caused such destruction, this wolf in sheeps clothing.
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