Flood Watch?

First weekend of summer, and while most of you are sitting comfortably in that much needed air-conditioning after the hot bike ride in the wind in Minnesota, or riding in the "dry" heat in California, Mike and I are watching our streets flood and not even experiencing the relief of the cool air that the rain often brings because it's "tropical" like and muggy out. The air is thick like the deep South, but with more rain...steady rain...non-stop rain. And given the population and heavily traveled narrow roads, this means the pot-holes are sink holes when it's wet, making for horrible riding conditions while dodging pot-holes or cars or both. In addition, most of these homes don't have central air or heat (which would kill ya in the South), and so we are reaching to find a way to get comfortable. (break out the violins...sigh).

I don't mind the heat as much as I mind the heat with the rain with the potholes. Sigh. Combine all three and it is a little hard to take.
Just like last year when I was "shocked" by the different climate, folks around here keep telling me how unusual the weather is this year. Yeah right! My biggest problem is that I've lived most of my entire life in a place that doesn't have "weather". You may hear on the news about the "rains in California and how they were so much worse than last year...blah blah blah". While this is true, you have to consider what they're used to. Perfect weather. And so any deviation from the perfect mark is such a mental blow that it just seems so monumental.

I remember the storms and floods of El Nino and La Nina...and they were torrential and hard to take. Certainly in an area where it [bad weather] is unusual, it effects things much worse since there's no need to plan or have emergency services to accommodate the extreme conditions since it is such a rarity. So the drama plays out and everyone sighs and says "those poor Californians---look at how they suffer, look how unprepared they are!"

But the reality is that the bad moments are over quickly and the rest of the year gets back to perfect and you forget about that rainy 45 days. Not here. New England is beautiful in it's greenery and rolling hills and history. When you can get out and ride, and get out of the crowded areas, it's lovely. But the "when you can..." is the big challenge. Mike and I look at each other with sympathetic eyes and painful disbelief at how bad the weather can be here. Humid and rainy; wet and sticky.

On the brighter side, tomorrow is our first wedding anniversary, and I can think back to a year ago and remember the wonderful time in Marshall when I became a Taylor officially and my life took on new meaning. It's amazing to think of the incredible year we've had as an official Taylor Team, huh?

Oh well---guess I'll go do the laundry! Have a wonderful Saturday!