It's Raining out there
Got up this morning to the sound of pitter-patter of the rain on the window and a stiff breeze moving the tree branches up against the building. I was up early enough to gobbled down some toast & jam with my mint tea and sprinted out the door. Exiting out the door puts me in the courtyard of the apartment, it’s sort of like extra space for me to enjoy during the summer.

But this morning it was cold dark gray skies that got me wet as I exited out the gate on to the sidewalk. The rain was coming down on my street something fierce so I opted to pull out the old Jedi Mobile from the carport to avoid a drenching getting to work.

Back in the day I use to drive a postal vehicle to deliver the mail and one of the safety procedures was to drive with the headlights on during the rain. Something about being seen by other drivers if their windows fogged up, I still do it as a matter of course. Although, most people don’t turn on the headlights in a rain and seem perfectly happy to have fogged up windows.

These days the next safety tip is wearing a head set for my cell phone to keep my hands free, I like being safe. Only today along with the high winds and pouring rain are other drivers driving like maniacs, swerving to avoid fallen tress, branches and stalled vehicles. Also they usually drive with the cell phone in hand and intently conversing with whoever it is they need to yell at. Also I’m sorry to be in my lane but your drifting into mine and I’ve nowhere else to go in this heavy traffic. So screw you too.

The rain is still coming down while the wind is buffeting my transport and I’m trying to avoid hitting work crews having to clear the mess to keep the lanes open. Driving along Golden Gate Park on Lincoln Way to approach Ninth Avenue where I work at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Visibility is nil and it’s only 8:30 in the morning, feeling I need to make reservations with Noah, for a berth on the ark.

Now I’m worried the parking lot is flooded with only one other vehicle parked up close to the building, which is a good idea so I did the same. Entering the office and it’s dark so I yell out “Good morning” and a reply from the Park Superintendent saying, “Hi Alex”
Well I’m not alone but I need to turn on the lights and my computer and get the place ready.

This is strange at fifteen minutes after the hour and nobody else has arrived, the super has said there are reports of trees falling over in and around the park, blocking traffic. Nobody is coming into the garden today and suggests I go home. Yeah I’m heading for the back door to leave and as I open the door, I hear the wind howl then a loud crack. Looking up to see a large branch fall off of the big tree near the parking lot and crash loudly to the asphalt. I’m thinking surely I felt it move the ground but it missed my trusted wheels by twenty feet.

Yep I’m out of here if I can just drive beyond the fallen branch that I see when I drive by is as thick as my thigh. Luckily I’m heading home to catch the news. So have a very good weekend everybody.