Being from Texas, Hurricane Ike definitely hit close to home.My family lives in north Texas, so they only got a little wind and rain.But my fianc’s family lives in and around Houston, so they got a lot of wind and rain. Everyone is safe, but the city will be recovering for a while and life is by no means back to normal. For example, this week they have to learn how to navigate around with absolutely no stoplights.

Galveston, where I’ve spent a couple beach vacations, took the hardest hit. When I try to imagine the care-free streets of my spring break days strewn with debris, I see trees, trash, water, and broken buildings. But I never picture this – apparently there are fish everywhere. In some areas they “[coat] the intersection.” It’s just the kind of unexpected detail that gives you a glimpse into the sad and strange Ike aftermath.