Reading a friend's Facebook post reminded me there will be some disappointed kiddies who will not be able to trick or treat tomorrow due to the weather or flooding in areas hit by the big storm.  This may seem minor to us adults, considering all the damage and loss of lives caused by Hurricane Sandy, but most little ones will not be looking at the big picture.  I hope the places where the weather or flooding makes it impractical for the little ones to go out, have made other arrangements.  I know that to me as a child, and to my grandkids, Halloween is one of the most fun things of the year.   

I am sure the damage to property will have longer term affects and will also ruin the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for many people. The holidays are probably the least of their worries if their homes or places of business have been damaged or destroyed.  That is obvious.  But, still, it is another  disruption of usual family life and one that perhaps the little ones will notice most.

For all U.S. citizens registered and intending to vote, there remains the question of whether or not people in the affected areas will be able to cast their ballots a week from today.  States depend upon electronic voting and some areas may still be without electric power Tuesday or transportation my be impossible due to flooding, fallen trees or wires, road damage, snow, etc. caused by Hurricane Sandy.  And yet  U.S. law based upon constitutional and other issues, determines voting day.  To change it, even temporarily, would require Congressional action. And we know how quickly and efficiently Congress acts.  But if problems from the storm keep  large groups of people from being able to participate in voting, something should and must be done to rectify that situation.   So here is hoping one of two things happen: either road and power conditions do not present obstacles to the vast majority of people in areas affected by the storm, or Congress has in place a plan which it will put immediately into action if the need arises. 

I also have been considering how mail will be affected by Sandy.  Despite the old  Postal Service motto, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.", it is logical to assume mail delivery, not just in the areas hit by the storm, will be interrupted.  As mail originates as well as gets delivered to the storm area, surely we shall be affected nationwide by interruptions. 

Also transportation of needed goods across the country will be affected. This could conceivably impact just about everything from food on grocery shelves to manufacturing.  The extent of the effect will depend on how quickly things get back to normal in the areas of the storm.  And already, flights in and out of some major airports have been cancelled.  I can only imagine how that will affect many people. Just think how many things depend upon meeting deadlines and reaching destinations. 

I am sure there will be books, television shows and at least one movie about "The Great Storm of The Century"--or at least let's hope this is the storm of the century and it is not outranked by another.  One thing is for sure, there will be millions of stories about the storm and there will be many lives forever changed by it. I realize most people have it within them to overcome monumental adversity.  But, all the same, my heart goes out to those who suffer because of this latest disaster.  And I am grateful my family and friends appear to be coming through it pretty much unscathed.