Our region has seen more than its fair share of weather-related calamities in recent years: several hurricanes and tropical storms, two major floods, deadly tornadoes, massive wildfires and, of all things just this very week, an earthquake.

At press time, we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of yet another significant weather event, this one named Irene. While we have become as weary of these unwelcomed intruders as we suppose you have, allow us to at least point out a couple of the silver linings we see among Irene’s gathering storm clouds.

First, for anyone who had to take a breath of any type on Friday, whether it was indoors or out, the fire in the Great Dismal Swamp had choked out any semblance of fresh air. Several inches from Irene would certainly go a long way toward providing a bit of fresh air and some needed relief for the firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.

Secondly, as we were out and about and up and down Armory Drive on Friday making last-minute preparations for the arrival of Irene, it was nearly impossible to hear one’s self think over the deafening roar of busy cash registers and their delighted shopkeepers.

For an economy that has also been in desperate need of fresh air for some time now, the last-minute purchases made in preparation For a hurricane have been a welcome relief for many.

As we remain hopeful that Irene will make a sharp right turn in the next few hours, leaving behind only enough rain to put out a big fire and piles of sales receipts to be happily tallied by local merchants, we recognize that she’ll likely make, at the very least, a brief and unwanted appearance here in Western Tidewater. We wish for nothing but health and safety for all of you, our readers and friends.