Blame it on the Rain

I've learned my lesson on complaining about southwestern Connecticut weather. In a blog I wrote just before going to Houston for Father's Day, I pointed out how sick I was of rain. We had nearly seven inches of rain in May and almost eight inches in April. So I fly to Houston for the weekend and am pummeled with more than ten inches of rain in ONE DAY! I was scheduled to fly home Monday morning, but as my parents and I went down for breakfast at our hotel, the elevator doors opened to a sea of water in the lobby. I promise you a minnow swam over my foot.

(click on pictures to enlarge)

We were stranded at the hotel for hours, with roads closed and all flights suspended. Not knowing when flights would resume, I thought about walking through the waist-high water outside to get to Hobby airport, which was only three miles away. But then I heard a news report advising people not to walk in high water unless they've had a tetanus shot. My parents' car was submerged and had to be towed away when the flooding finally went down.

Despite the fact it rained here on Mother's Day when my parents came to see me, I have to say  Mother's Day was much better than Father's Day. Yet it wasn't all bad. I am grateful for the time I was able to spend with my parents. I also got to see my grandmother, Momo. She lives in Crystal Beach, Texas, a ferry ride away from Galveston. She is so funny, and always has a joke to tell!

My parents and I also spent some time in Galveston. Our last-minute motel was nice, we had a balcony overlooking the Gulf, where people were attemping to surf.

I did, however, get a glimpse of what was to come when I rented rollerblades Sunday morning. As soon as I started out along the seawall, it started pouring. I was drenched. Of course as soon as we packed up to drive to our hotel by the airport, the sun came out and it was perfect beach weather. But that night is when all the rain began. According to reports, overnight into Monday marked the rainiest day in Houston since Tropical Storm Allison hit the area in June of 2001. I finally made it to the airport by hitching a ride with a Texas truck equipped with monster wheels. My 10:00 am flight turned into a 7:00 pm flight.  By the time we boarded we were informed the flight would be delayed another two hours because of bad weather back home in the northeast. I finally made it home safe, but we are still waiting to hear from the insurance company as to what they are going to do with my dad's car.