Helene, Milton, Katrina, Sandy: deady hurricane names we'll never forget.

After the recent two hurricanes, Helene and Milton, those two names will forever

bring up memories of fear, loss and destruction.

For all the millions of people that have lost loved ones, property and hope,

I won't try to write words that I think might help you.

I don't know the right words.

I wondered, how does it feel to share a name with a meteorological monster?

When the name of a storm you've experienced is brought up, without a doubt

your nervous system returns to fight or flight and you relive the hell.

This can happen with any name or experience that elicits past trauma.

Divorce, a death, a diagnosis, 9/11, the pandemic

and the other "storms of life."

Hurricane MaryJayne is unlikely, my name only encourages jokes about

patent leather shoes and weed.

I find it interesting that blizzards and ice storms are usually nameless.

"Historic", "Storm of the Century", "Snowmageddon" are the typical descriptions.

The "historic" 1991 ice storm in Western New York occured three weeks after my Mom died.

A tree fell through the kitchen roof.

I was in a deep physical and emotional freeze for awhile.

I'm grateful it doesn't have a name and I'm only reminded of it when it has an anniversary.

If we choose to, sharing our stories and experiences can be a powerful way to heal and recover.

We all have them, but for some, it's too painful to share.

Please be sensitive to names, especially when it's associated with something negative.

Names are an important piece off our identity and sense of belonging.

As Shakespeare's Juliet expressed,

"What's in a name?

That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."