Stormy Weather

Wow, Nature is beautiful.

So there's this storm blowing outside. I have a vacuum to fix, so I'm mostly not aware of it as I take the beast apart again so I can install a new belt and hepa filter. When that's done, I give it a test run on the living room floor (hoping to at least make a fair swath in the kitty litter debris all over the carpet). At 9 p.m. I run the vacuum across the floor one time and get more hair, kitty litter and shoe gunk out of the carpet than the last 4 attempts combined. I'm tempted to continue, but I think I've probably strained the patience of my grouchy downstairs neighbor quite enough for the moment.

I empty out the canister and put away the vacuum cleaner and notice that there is some very heavy wind blowing about outside. Then I notice a freight train's whistle and "chugga-chugga" sound as it passes by up along US1. (Yes it was really a train and not a tornado.)

I step out on the walkway to watch the wind blow things about. Off to my right I can see the outside lights from another building. They shine through the branches and dangling Spanish Moss. The wind whips through the branches and causes the light and shadows to move like wild, enraptured dancers, whipping and twisting in the ecstasy of the moment.

I find myself pulled out closer to the edge of the walkway where I am no longer sheltered from the rain being blown towards the building. I feel the soft tingle of thousands of raindrops as they crash against my skin and run down my face, arms, hands. My feet feel the moisture on the walkway's concrete and the coolness of the surface is welcome to them.

It is humid tonight. According to the weather forecast, humidity is about 90%. With the wall of water whipping and twisting about on the rooftop across the way, I think to myself it's a good bit more than 90%.

After a few more minutes of letting Nature vent her fury on me, I decide to return to the shelter of the Palm Tree House and comfort my terrified Mr. Bond. And try to convince him to walk on the freshly vacuumed floor. Looks like I need at least another pass before it's up to his standard. Picky little fiend.