Since 2am today we've been listening to thunder and rain. Finally deciding that sleep, in any form, was impossible, I hung my leg over the side of the bed so Sweety, our cat, could do her morning routine of rubbing my foot for a few minutes. When she finished, I know that because she then jumps up and expects similar 'grooming' from an upheld arm, I carefully exited the bed and proceeded to complete the 'wake-up' regimen. Once I had my re-warmed Oat/raisin muffin ready, I took it and the local paper out to our back 'porch.' It's nestled in the 'bottom' of the "U" shaped back of the house, covered by the overhanging upper floor and faces the fish pond and 'garden.'
It was cool and breezy with the gentle sounds of the rain and the rustling leaves in the wind and the occasional flash of light followed by ever closer thunder. Calmed by a minimally full stomach and the comforting World, National, State and local news, I decided to sit a while and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells. Such peace...
About that time, the heavens opened and already soaked ground said, "Enough, already!" and refused to accept additional input. The 'memory overflow' then caused the water level to begin rising above the patio and onto the porch floor, only marginally higher, anyway. Confident that these intermittent showers would soon abate, I simply raise my sock covered feet onto the wrought iron glider and continued my blissful commune with Nature.
Ten minutes later, I started to wonder how short this 'shower' was becoming and wondered how much more the gutters would hold before overflowing. The latter question was almost immediately answered and I was now 'viewing' the scene through a minor model of Niagara Falls! This did not aid the runoff from the floor at all. As I watched, the depressed grout between the bricks of the floor started filling with water and it was creeping ever closer to my 'island!' Was I getting a preview of what living in Florida during the next few centuries might feel like? :| More importantly, how was I going to get back inside without needing to change clothes?!
I calmed myself by knowing that my faithful, loving, caring and concerned wife would, at any minute, be opening the closest of several doors (all locked, of course) that would allow my quick rescue. That is, I remained clam for several minutes...all the while the water level rising, the wind getting stronger, the lightening more intense and the thunder shaking the ground! In the meantime, someone must have removed the gutters! The 'Niagara' now looked more like Victoria during the rainy season! And still no sign of Judy!
Fear being the better part of valor, or something like that, I quickly removed the socks, sacrificing my tender feet to the waters of Summer and wet-footed it into the house! After drying my feet, I knew SWMBO would blow a fuse finding wet foot prints on her spotless floors, I began my search for my 'caring' spouse. Not in the laundry nor kitchen, so much for wifely duties. Down the hall, peering into the master bedroom, the bed was still unmade, more duty shirking! Not in the dressing area or bathroom...Aha! A light from the computer room/office! The light was not flickering or orangish, so I was comforted hat the cat had not knocked over a lamp! Timidly calling, in the sweetest voice I could muster, "
JUDY!" I was so relieved to hear her casual reply, "Where have you been? I needed to ask you a question."
Fortunately, I did not drown or even float away! The house didn't get flooded, it actually stopped the heavy raining as soon as I leapt off my observation post. So, unconcerned of my close brush with the end of life, I calmly reassured her that my computer skills were at her disposal.
Life is grand!
...as long as I stay in sight of my 'close and caring' companion!
