It rained again last night. Not as hard as two nights ago, but even a little is too much when the ground is completely saturated.
So we have more water in the basement this morning. And even though the city promptly repaired Monday’s washouts at the end of our driveway and all along our beleaguered gravel road (a thousand thank yous to our city workers), last night’s rain washed them out again.
But, I keep reminding myself, things could be worse. In fact, I’ve come up with my top ten ways it could be worse. Here goes:
10. Our electricity could have gone out and then the whole basement, not just a small
portion would be flooded.
9. Our basement could be finished and we could be cleaning up a much bigger mess,
like several of our friends are.
8. We could live in Pakistan or China where flood relief is neither quick or accessible.
7. The rain could have come in June, which would have totally have turned me into a
crazy person in the weeks before Anne’s wedding.
6. The basement could have flooded the weekend of Anne’s wedding, and I would now
reside in a mental institution.
5. Hiram could have been at work today instead of here keeping the water under control.
4. We could be having a drought this summer.
3. I could be a farmer, watching a year’s livelihood succumb to flood waters.
2. We could have been on vacation this week and come home to a mess.
And the number one way it could be worse is.
1. I could still be teaching. I could be like many teachers in our district who just learned
they could get into their classrooms after a summer full of construction and
remodeling delays. Like many of my teaching friends are doing today, I could be
simultaneously bailing water and making lesson plans. Which makes a little water in
the basement an act of grace and an occasion for gratitude.
Because it could be way worse. I could be teaching.
