So like the title says, it’s official I’ve been retired. Some of you might be thinking that’s old news and you would be mostly right. I lost my job in the 2008 downsizing extravaganza and resisted using the “retired’ designation preferring the ever popular “unemployed.” After all I tend to think of retirement as a choice and my job cessation was not my choice.
However, I’m not talking about my loss of employment but rather the fact that I will never ever again be a named storm. Some of you might remember how ecstatic I was to be a named storm this last hurricane season before I became a super storm of massive destruction and then I felt a little silly for wanting to have a hurricane named after me. To be fair to me, it’s rare that Sandy comes up as a name and even rarer that it gets a chance to be used. But global warming being what it is, my name came up and then I turned into a super storm and now I’m feeling ambivalent about the whole “I got a hurricane named after me” thing.
But good news! I will never ever be another hurricane. Brian Williams just told me and everyone else watching NBC Nightly News that my name, much like Michael Jordan’s number, has been retired.
But don’t cry for me, Argentina, or anywhere else that a hurricane might hit. I had my day in the spotlight of The Weather Channel. And though I didn’t save all the news headlines as one friend suggested, I’ll always have the memories of how I became the most talked about weather phenomenon in recent memory.
Satellite image showing Hurricane Sandy near peak intensity on Oct. 25, 2013 from Wikimedia Commons.
sandylikebeach 
I knew you’d be flooded with emotion over this.
I’m all cried out. I never expected to be retired twice in such a short period of time. 🙂
It feel great to be so awesome at something, they retire the use of your name! They don’t just do that for anyone, you know!
I think that’s known as one and done!
I hope you got a good pension both times, Sandy.
Sadly, that would be no and no.
Your last incarnation just couldn’t be beat in the Northeast. Contractors will tell stories of you to get their children to grow up properly and incorporate proper drainage on properties.
I hope your last iteration retires to a nice field somewhere and has fun spinning the legs off those lawn flamingoes.
Fields of Flocking Flamingoes Lose Legs!
That could be my last iteration’s last alliterative headline.
As long as you don’t sink into depression
If I ever find myself sinking into depression, I’ll book a ticket for one of your train travels! That will brighten my day.
“Blushes” – can I ask about your pile of dirt and/or your l’il doggie?
I haven’t been shoveling dirt but I have been putting down edging and planting some plants and spreading mulch. I need to hire someone to clean out vines and grind stumps near a group of palm trees which will leave a large hole for the rest (I hope) of the dirt. I hope to get that done in the next week or so.
The blind, incontinent slightly senile cocker spaniel survived my care and I’ve been asked back to stay with him the last weekend of this month which is good because the fees from that are funding my plant, edging and mulch purchases.
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I do remember your initial excitement over the news of hurricane Sandy. I would have been the same way had they named it Lisa. I’ve gotta say, though, for that particular storm, Sandy was the perfect name. It brought to mind all the sandy beaches being whipped up into a frenzy. Lisa would be a lame name, let’s be honest.
If you’re gonna get a storm named after you it might as well be the real deal, right? I will forever connect that storm with you, my blogging friend. That’s pretty cool.
It is one way to have your name live on in infamy!
And to think your legacy will leave on in the memory of many.
It is a bit amazing that I’m still talked about in certain parts of the country.
I don’t care what they choose to use, you still have a calm in your eye.
Which belies the storm that swirls around me.
Sandy,
For one, I’m sure Katrina will not complain.
Le Clown
No, she’ll probably welcome me to the club. There are quite a few members in the This Name WIll Never Be Used Again To Name A Storm club.
Must’ve been blown away by that news! Or it put the wind up you … as it should do, if peak intensity is still coming on 25th October 2013 as captioned!
Ha! You have a sharp eye. And I should refrain from writing captions after imbibing a couple of glasses of wine.
I feared that the caption had come with the picture! 🙂
Congrats on your name being officially off the grid. Now you can concentrate more fervently on other escapades…like dirt, and plants and senile puppy-dogs…and wine. Don’t forget the wine…
Happily, I never forget the wine!
congrats to you sandy on every level )
Thank you, Ksbeth!
thanks for reading and following my blog too –
You’re welcome. I’m enjoying reading your blog.
I would love to be a storm!
Petition the storm naming board or maybe The Weather Channel to add your name to the list!
Very stormy thoughts indeed!
Thanks for stopping by, Mohammadatif!
You’re Welcome!