The news did not exaggerate the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy. Thankfully, the Whistling Swan Inn came through relatively unscathed with only a couple of pieces of siding flying off…cosmetic to be sure. We experienced a power outage of seven days, but fortunately were able to remain open with back-up generator power. The Jacuzzi jets did not work, but my guests were able to keep warm, have hot showers and a hearty breakfast.
The rest of the community and outlying areas did not fare so well. Whole towns have been decimated, and people are displaced as a result of no power, no water and property damage. And yet, they all maintained an optimistic attitude that was inspiring. My thoughts are with each and every one of them as they try to pick up and rebuild.
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| Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy |
This is a perfect time to thank my wonderful staff publicly for their superhuman efforts during this past week. Jessica, my kitchen helper, washed mountains of dishes by hand, because we were not running the automatic dishwashers…she’s probably the only 16-year old with dishpan hands, but she never stopped smiling. I guess when you’re 16, it’s an adventure. Joanne and Maureen, with their usual diligence, made sure the rooms were pristine and kept the laundry at bay so I could focus on taking reservations and ensuring the guests were comfortable. I’m particularly grateful that they did not laugh too hard at the miners’ headlights Tom and I were wearing almost constantly.
As they say, we’re just going to keep on keeping on…
Ros
Ros Bruno
Innkeeper
The Whistling Swan Inn
110 Main St.
Stanhope, NJ 07874
973-347-6369
www.whistlingswaninn.com