I've been spending my online time getting information about the Hurricane Ivan damage in Lower Alabama . That is a favorite vacation destination for us and we have lots of wonderful memories of warm Gulf waters in September, squeezing a few more weeks out of summer after the beaches empty. I check in on local topics at a Gulf Shores board from time to time to see what is going on. Most of the conversation lately has been about the elections and the planned development of the area. Some were heatedly against it but the city councils seemed intent on plowing ahead with condo on the water. One 40 story condo was planned - most are 3-15 stories tall.

Now, so much of it is gone or ruined. This is where we always stayed. The pool is not there.

I'm beginning to understand "Gone" in a new way.