Letter From Home 6/21/2010

It was one of those days when paperwork and little projects started early this morning and continued non-stop all day.   Early this evening we ordered pizza from our favorite Italian family in the neighborhood, and walked to pick it up.  A few sprinkles fell on the way back, and so we decided to sit inside to eat rather than out on the lawn as first thought.  Yes, the weather was predicting wild weather but it did not appear all that bad.  When dinner was not quite over it started to rain…..then harder down it came.  I looked out windows on all sides of our home and then opened the door to look out the stoop. 

“James,” I shouted, “you have to see this!”  Running through the rooms he reached the door and looked out.  It was a real Madison monsoon and the noise it made was loud and intense; demanding to be experienced. Or so I thought. 

“I think I will watch it from the windows,” he replied.   With that attitude he never would have been selected to travel with Lewis and Clark.

I, on the other hand, might have been asked to lead the expedition.

Since I had no reason not to, I grabbed the largest umbrella we owned and slipped on my sandals.  On the stoop and down the steps I went into the almost deafening downfall of rain.  The wind whipped the falling gusher.  As I peered up the top of the trees swayed heavily.  With almost a demented madness the rain poured down on the pavement, cars, and of course me.   Even with the umbrella the back of my shirt was soaked and my shorts stuck to my legs.  But it felt great!  I walked along the sidewalk and to the corner where roiled waters from two different directions crashed and churned trying to enter the street drain.  It was of no use as the water had such force it just surged over the street and into the next block.  The water was coming with such conviction down the sidewalk it banked up and over my feet.  Another reason to always have sandals at the ready to wear. Never know when a walk in the rain is just around the corner.

When I made it into the entryway of our home after a bit more walking and feeling the intensity of the downbursts I was met with “Your mother said you did not know enough to come in out of the rain.  This is worse, you willing walked out into it!”

Yes….and what a wonderful experience.

As I slipped into a hot shower I heard the sirens go off and James alerted me to the tornado warning.  All I could say was “I came in too early!!”