Roger Miller once said, “Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet”. This is the time when the rains come to Northern California. In a matter of days, the sky cries its tears and changes a drying landscape into Ireland in one full sweep of darkened clouds.
Creeks go from a soft trickle to raging rivers and the roadways flood. It is the Northern California equivalent to a monsoon. Some years it rains from Thanksgiving until April, and many of the homes along the Russian River float out to the Pacific Ocean. Trees fall, sink holes appear and the news stations run around hoping for some trapped idiot who decided to drive through a flooded street.
Skiers watch in anticipation as these rain storms that cross Northern California move on to the Sierras and dictate the snow pack. Building Contractors rejoice as more water enables more home building as kid’s dawn their goulashes and run paper boats down the streets. Sand bags appear at every corner and the adobe mud turns to this thick clumpy sticky taffy-like substance that clings to shoes like some x's cling to the possibility of reconciliation.
The ocean swells with high-energy waves, which force an undertow, and people not from here often are knocked out to sea. The ocean tides are as dangerous as the sharks underneath and the winds howl their secret song. Winter is officially upon us.
One year it rained for 45 days straight as I hoped a plane in Gail-force winds to travel to Houston, then on to Austin to train loan officers. The flights were so delayed that I missed my connecting flight to Austin and spent the night at the Houston Airport. The next morning I caught the first flight out, and on exiting the Austin airport I was struck by this strange sensation upon my face. It stopped me in my tracks. It was the warmth of the sun and I had forgotten what it felt like. I stopped, put down my bags, closed my eyes and turned my face to the sun - standing there frozen like a statue.
Taxi drivers are yelling for me as I put up a hand to stop their shouts and stood enjoying the warmth of the sun. I think I stood there for 5 minutes until I opened my eyes to a smiling cabbie. “You from some place cold?” he shouts. “San Francisco” I yell back. “Well get in honey I am half price for you today!”
KB married Scott three years ago on one of the rainiest days I have ever experienced. It was New Years Eve and they decided to marry at the San Francisco courthouse. The hour drive to the city took me two and a half hours, as the average speed on the freeway was 35 miles an hour. My wipers could not work hard enough to clear off the sheets of rain across my windshield. Several times I thought of stopping, but didn’t want to miss the wedding.
At one point I realized I did not have bridge toll and needed to stop at an ATM. I pulled off, found a deli with an ATM, and was back on the freeway in a matter of minutes. It seemed like God had opened the sky and was using a fire hose to pour water down on the freeway. Visibility was best in the far lane so I crossed three lanes to get there, and just as I did my windows completely fogged up. My father taught me not to panic when this happens and roll the windows down immediately. I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face and tried to remain calm as Brian was in the passenger seat. Instinct took over and the power windows came down clearing the fog. Just when the crisis passed I looked to my left (to push the window buttons) when this huge bucket size splash of water comes out of nowhere in through my window right on to me. It covered my mouth, the side of my face and my chest. I was now soaking wet.
I squealed when it hit me because it was so cold and such a shock. I am lucky I didn’t wreck the truck. Great, now I was on the way to a wedding with half my hair soaking wet and curly and the other half dry and straight. When I arrived at the hotel the check-in was in chaos as the water was coming down in sheets. I felt like I was never getting to the wedding. Check-in took forever, the cabbie we caught from the hotel didn’t know where the courthouse was (rain tends to soak peoples brains), and racing up the steps to the courthouse I passed part of the wedding party leaving. Yep…I had missed the wedding.
Once again the rains have returned.
I am suppose to go to Ebets for the New Year. Luckily, she is already married and the flooding came when she dropped that fish tankin her family room, so I should be pretty safe.
We hope...
Until next time-
C
