METAMORPHOSIS: Building the Dome of a Home

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dangerous boats of debris. Not a single company responded – it was extremely frustrating to realize that all of our work could be negated yet again because no one would take responsibility for the hazardous material on their lots. I wasn‟t as worried about the storm itself as I was about the potential human induced destruction. I found it utterly incomprehensible that there was no plan in place to address these very obvious issues. Most residents were still fighting with the insurance companies over Ivan‟s claims. Now, we were going to have more damage than was necessary because there was no plan in place to remove dumpsters, construction materials, debris piles and FEMA trailers. (Post Katrina note: I can‟t say I am still surprised that FEMA did not have a contingency plan for their trailers) We prepared the house for Hurricane Dennis‟ arrival with the rote movements of activities repeatedly practiced over the last decade. Letter to Serenity by the Sea I wrote this letter as I was preparing Serenity for yet another storm. Hurricane Dennis, 2005, was bearing down on us as we stumbled around in disbelief. Again??? The preparation was particularly heart wrenching because we were missing the memorial service of Serenity’s architect, Jonathan Zimmerman. Instead of flying to California, we were in Florida battening down the hatches. I was vacuuming – don’t ask – when I was overwhelmed with love for this dome that is so much more than a home. I began to cry and in my anguish I wrote this letter. A peace descended upon me as I surrendered to the wisdom of trusting the process. July 9, 2005 My Dear Sweet Serenity, As we once again prepare you to face Mother Nature's fury, I want to share a moment with you. So we can sit quietly together, I filled you with a beautiful sounds of peaceful music instead of the fearful rhetoric so common on other channels. I feel your Spirit of strength give me the courage to leave you alone to face the storm. When people assume I want to stay only to protect my investment, they underestimate my love for you. You're my child. Such intense labor pains, but such a beautiful creation. I really feel like we were only midwives assisting the birth of a home destined to be. Ironically, or maybe not so ironically, today is the memorial service for Jonathan Zimmerman, the architect that designed you. Last month, he succumbed to cancer. We were scheduled to be in San Francisco today to pay our respects. Instead, we're preparing you, his creation, to do what you were designed to do: not to compete with Mother Nature, but to work with her. I have asked Jonathan to stand guard to protect you. Yes, I believe you have a guardian angel now. So, you really won't be weathering the storm alone. Jonathan will be here with you. I asked Granny and Grandpa to show up, too. So, I think you will not be quite so lonely. No partying. I do worry about that, you know. I mean, the lonely part, not the partying. Serenity, I want you to know how deeply you're loved. Hundreds and hundreds of people tell us how much they love you, how you are their favorite house, how they drove miles and miles just to see you, how much 41
fun they had vacationing with you. You even had guests from the UK fly all the way to Florida just to play the guitar and to resonate with your music. You are a celebrity. How many people can boast of your media success in less than two years' time? The media from Saudi Arabia, the UK, Canada, Germany, and the United States has placed your picture across the globe, quite literally. You made your debut in so many venues: the Weather Channel, the Travel Channel, National Geographic, MSNBC news, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Scarborough Country, Discovery Channel, Good Morning America, ABC news, Fox news, and the list goes on. I know Jonathan watches and is so proud of how well you handle yourself. Anyway, I just want to tell you that we and a lot of other people love you dearly. I love you dearly. We are all with you in Spirit. You have been an inspiration to be many, including us. Love, Valerie 42
Page 2 and 3: Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ..
Page 4 and 5: Our mission is to help reduce the s
Page 6 and 7: 2 HURRICANE IVAN Surviving the Stor
Page 8 and 9: Fortunately, before I had left for
Page 10 and 11: ack on the island in our homes; end
Page 12 and 13: for the entire house, so we all sta
Page 14 and 15: They slept in the parking lot of th
Page 16 and 17: esistant than its conventional neig
Page 18 and 19: 3 Mother Nature's Influence in My L
Page 20 and 21: The winds spawned an F-1 tornado th
Page 22 and 23: Two hours before the intense impact
Page 24 and 25: The kitchen trash. 4 HUMBLE BEGINNI
Page 26 and 27: The cost of submitting the applicat
Page 28 and 29: equired building codes for the coas
Page 30 and 31: 6 METAMORPHOSIS The Dome Home would
Page 32 and 33: In utter shock, I stopped my sobbin
Page 34 and 35: 7 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The
Page 36 and 37: I compiled our wish list into a sev
Page 38 and 39: VALERIE A Tribute to our Friend Jon
Page 40 and 41: asked him to split his energy betwe
Page 44 and 45: 10 TO HURRICANE HELL AND BACK THE U
Page 46 and 47: arrange for transportation to the n
Page 48 and 49: SURVIVOR OR VICTIM As Katrina looms
Page 50 and 51: trenches helping in innumerable way
Page 52 and 53: I have learned to be mostly unattac
Page 54 and 55: As I edit this book, I find there i
Page 56 and 57: Although our counties are now suppo
Page 58 and 59: Even with all of the heartache, tea
Page 60 and 61: The SEAPILE piling is placed into t
Page 62 and 63: The balloon created quite a stir on
Page 64 and 65: that hold the balloons‟ pieces to
Page 66 and 67: FLEX-C TRAC, solved our dilemma and
Page 68 and 69: PRODUCTS SELECTED FOR THE COASTAL E
Page 70 and 71: DENSGLASS GOLD® EXTERIOR GUARD Den
Page 72 and 73: With its double pane, glass block i
Page 74 and 75: Another significant advantage of ea
Page 76 and 77: We used foam insulation throughout
Page 78 and 79: frustrated with my family, I rememb
Page 80 and 81: usiness to be managed." Never have
Page 82 and 83: Architecture Magazine: Dome Home Su
Page 84 and 85: 14 THE THUNDER ROLLS The thunder ro
Page 86: The Skybird Lodge would address the

METAMORPHOSIS: Building the Dome of a Home

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