The Texas Department of Transportation — TXDoT — has installed a number of electronic message signs. Heading to the Gulf Coast for a Labor Day weekend affair, motoring down the freeway, the signs all echoed a certain message.

HURRICANE SEASON
BE PREPARED

Hurricane Preparations

Not like this Mercury in Retrograde caught us by surprise. Is it bad? No, “For there’s nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so,” like Hamlet said.

Hurricane Preparations

Hurricane Preparations.

Hurricane Preparations

The sign made me mentally pause. What preparations are in place?

Hurricane Preparations

Hurricane preparations, like Mercury in Retrograde?