Barbara J. Hamby

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Ma’s Mad

We have had huge windstorms and widespread flooding before, but usually on separate occasions. We are just recovering from a double whammy of wind and water that’s convinced me that Mother Nature’s mad. In our tiny section of the world, the effects of all that weather were minimal. Our power stayed on; our cable television was uninterrupted, and the flooding only touched our downstairs neighbors. But devastation is all around us. Neighbors just a few blocks away were evacuated when a culvert clogged, flooding at least one garage, and threatening a couple dozen homes. On the Oregon and Washington coasts, flooding, landslides and downed trees have closed many roads and filled emergency shelters with evacuees.

A section of Interstate 5 near Chehalis/Centralia is flooded, interrupting traffic between Portland and Seattle. I heard last night that the detour route is via Yakima. Horizon Air has put larger planes on their daily commuter flights to accommodate travelers who might ordinarily drive.

The Noon news tells me that severe weather is covering a lot of the country, with heavy snow in many areas. Winter is here with a vengeance.

Today our weather is calm, cloudy and cool. We are hopeful the rain will hold off long enough for floodwaters to recede so repairs can begin.

Except for one trip to a doctor’s office, we didn’t have to be out in the worst of the storm. But a trip that would normally take fifteen or twenty minutes took an hour and a half because of high water closing exits and backing traffic up.

We spent four hours each day on Monday and Tuesday taking the AARP Driver Improvement Course, originally designed for drivers over age 55, but now offered to drivers of all ages. In addition to a possible discount on automobile insurance, the course provides updates on traffic laws, and suggestions to adapt driving to changes in physical abilities. This is at least the fourth time I’ve taken the class and I’ve always learned at least a few new things. Our instructor for this session was, I thought, exceptionally good at presenting the information. His background was in the trucking industry, in driver safety.

Now that the weather distractions and the driving class are out of the way, I hope to get back to some writing and maybe even start some Holiday planning.