A Parable of A Storm
A couple weeks ago I got caught in a storm.
Not while I was out driving around.
Not stuck in the grocery store while the rain passed
But stuck out in the storm. While on a walk. Over a half mile from home. With Andrew in the stroller.
Earlier in the morning I could hear thunder. I could see the dark clouds in the South. But it was 7:30am. And it never rains in Tucson in the morning. And storms are fickle; they quickly dissipate, they "rain everywhere but here," they thunder but don't rain. Not to mention that my brother-in-law's house is at the half-way point along my route; a safe refuge.
But none of that mattered.
When I passed Ted's house it was still calm.
When I got back to the main road it was sprinkling.
I started jogging a little, hoping to get home.
Pretty soon the rain and wind was coming at us hard.
Soon Andrew was wet and crying and cold. I stopped along the sidewalk under a big mesquite tree. I turned the stroller so its "back" was to the wind and rain. I knelt down in front of him to comfort him and to stay out of the rain as much as possible.
It POURED!
I was stuck out in the middle of a storm! And I felt paralyzed with uncertainty...run for it or stay put, hunker under this tree or find another tree for shelter. Not until hours later did it occur to me that I should have gone back to Ted's house with the first sprinkles. But then again, I didn't know how quickly the storm would come and how torrential it would be.
I was hoping the storm would pass quickly, as they often do in the desert. But it just kept intensifying. Soon the stroller roof was leaking and Andrew was cold. I looked up and all I could see were rain filled clouds. I knew it wasn't going to let up any time soon.
And then someone came to my rescue! A good Samaritan. Someone I did not know. She opened her passenger window and offered a ride, rescue, home! I'm pretty sure I said, "That would be FABULOUS!"
I picked up Andrew to put him in the car first. Between the sidewalk and the car, turning my back to the rain to protect him, I felt the cold drops soak right through. I threw the stroller into the backseat and piled in the front with Andrew. He was crying because he was wet. I was almost crying from the adrenaline of it all.
And as women do, we talked pretty easily. I think her name was Jenny. She has two kids, separated by 9 years, she was on her way home from dropping off her middle schooler. The younger was at home with dad sleeping. She admitted she was in her pajamas. I told her about my 3 boys; their names and ages. And then I thanked her profusely!
It wasn't a very long storm...maybe 30 minutes at the most...unless you're kneeling under a tree with a two year old waiting, waiting for it to end.
And the funny thing is, the storm was just the first thing that happened in, what turned out to be, a great day. Being caught in the storm left me feeling like laughing at Calvin instead of scowling and griping. The storm left it cool and cloudy, so we played outside. The storm left us content with our books and cozy for naps and eager for sweet treats and hungry for a good dinner.
I guess sometimes storms are like that.
Not while I was out driving around.
Not stuck in the grocery store while the rain passed
But stuck out in the storm. While on a walk. Over a half mile from home. With Andrew in the stroller.
Earlier in the morning I could hear thunder. I could see the dark clouds in the South. But it was 7:30am. And it never rains in Tucson in the morning. And storms are fickle; they quickly dissipate, they "rain everywhere but here," they thunder but don't rain. Not to mention that my brother-in-law's house is at the half-way point along my route; a safe refuge.
But none of that mattered.
When I passed Ted's house it was still calm.
When I got back to the main road it was sprinkling.
I started jogging a little, hoping to get home.
Pretty soon the rain and wind was coming at us hard.
Soon Andrew was wet and crying and cold. I stopped along the sidewalk under a big mesquite tree. I turned the stroller so its "back" was to the wind and rain. I knelt down in front of him to comfort him and to stay out of the rain as much as possible.
It POURED!
I was stuck out in the middle of a storm! And I felt paralyzed with uncertainty...run for it or stay put, hunker under this tree or find another tree for shelter. Not until hours later did it occur to me that I should have gone back to Ted's house with the first sprinkles. But then again, I didn't know how quickly the storm would come and how torrential it would be.
I was hoping the storm would pass quickly, as they often do in the desert. But it just kept intensifying. Soon the stroller roof was leaking and Andrew was cold. I looked up and all I could see were rain filled clouds. I knew it wasn't going to let up any time soon.
And then someone came to my rescue! A good Samaritan. Someone I did not know. She opened her passenger window and offered a ride, rescue, home! I'm pretty sure I said, "That would be FABULOUS!"
I picked up Andrew to put him in the car first. Between the sidewalk and the car, turning my back to the rain to protect him, I felt the cold drops soak right through. I threw the stroller into the backseat and piled in the front with Andrew. He was crying because he was wet. I was almost crying from the adrenaline of it all.
And as women do, we talked pretty easily. I think her name was Jenny. She has two kids, separated by 9 years, she was on her way home from dropping off her middle schooler. The younger was at home with dad sleeping. She admitted she was in her pajamas. I told her about my 3 boys; their names and ages. And then I thanked her profusely!
It wasn't a very long storm...maybe 30 minutes at the most...unless you're kneeling under a tree with a two year old waiting, waiting for it to end.
And the funny thing is, the storm was just the first thing that happened in, what turned out to be, a great day. Being caught in the storm left me feeling like laughing at Calvin instead of scowling and griping. The storm left it cool and cloudy, so we played outside. The storm left us content with our books and cozy for naps and eager for sweet treats and hungry for a good dinner.
I guess sometimes storms are like that.
Comments