Floridians are very familiar with a term that is used in the prediction of the path of a tropical system. Weather forecasters use the phrase “cone of uncertainty” to alert the public and warn them that they may have to deal with a tropical storm or a hurricane.

Our recent skirmish with then-Tropical Storm Isaac had placed Southwest Florida in that cone for several days, until it veered off farther to the west. Some people prepared, some did not. Some worried, and some had a party.