We were born here. We are those stubborn ass people that you guys are all taking about. Our grandparents are the ignorant old islanders that refused to leave their homes. And this is the beginning of our journey out to Bokeelia, FL. Launching from D&D Bait Shop the very next morning to go find one of their stubborn selves...

(...and anyone else who needed help along the way.)

As we pulled up to the ramp there was a couple, frantically asking anyone and everyone for a ride TO the island - knowing they would be stuck there. These are the Islanders. They know they will make it work, as long as they can get back to their community. So you know what we did, exactly what you'd tell us not to...

We loaded them on our boat and took them home.

And then on we went.

We found Papa. He was perfectly fine, against all odds. So fine in fact that he was sitting on the front porch eating a freshly grilled cheese burger, like a proper Islander. Fat and sassy. Happy to see us, as if a Cat 5 Hurricane didn't just blow our entire world and plenty of his neighbors completely away.

They're crazy. They raised us. We're proud of it. And we're FLORIDA STRONG because of it!

So go on and talk. Or criticize. Or joke (it isn't funny) But honestly all that we learned is that Mother Nature is the only one who is truly in control. If you live in a Flood Zone A you ALWAYS need to get to higher ground BEFORE the rain starts. And count your blessing every single day, because we are all just one bad decision away from being electrocuted while also drowning in our own homes. And every single one of us who stayed made that same decision. Some of us just didn't make it out.

And the rest of us wonder why we did.