Last night’s view near twilight was a sight to behold. I could hear Eddie Rabbit rise from the dead, singing, “Well, I love a rainy night, it’s such a beautiful sight…” Of course, folks around here have learned not to get our hopes up. We’ve been (literally) burned too many times to count, hopeful at the sight of darkening clouds and ominous thunder, only to watch it pass us by. While Al Roker chats gloats about rainstorms across the country, central Texas is essentially Penny from The Rescuers, constantly passed over by would-be adoptive parents. For years.
We’ve been in drought conditions for so long, it’s nearly time for Penny’s quinceañera (were she Hispanic, which would technically make her Centavo, and that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it).
But it DID rain last night, and I even went out and danced in it, prompted by fellow blogger, Liz, if only for a few seconds. P.S. rain is cold.
So what if the lightning and thunder kept me up all night long? I’ll sacrifice my slumber for the good of our state.
Award-winning weatherman Jim Spencer keeps us abreast of local changes on his “First Warning Weather,” deciphering the Doppler Weather Radar and making predictions, but (to quote the Aussies), it’s as dry as a dead dingo’s donger.
All of our lakes are hitting record lows. The Lake Travis restaurants like The Oasis and Carlos ‘n’ Charlie’s, so popular for water fun and frolic in the 1990s, now overlook a low-lying lake covered with dune-like islands. When I visited Volente Beach on Lake Travis fourteen years ago, I could see the dry islands popping up even then.
But now it’s much, much worse.
At this point, I don’t know how we’ll ever recoup enough water to get things where they need to be. Our water bills are always in the hundreds each month; that’s par for the course to live in this area. Cattle are dropping dead right and left, reservoirs are drying up. But we won’t give up hope.
Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” 1 Kings 18:41
More rain may be just around the bend.
I Don't Get It 
“Let It Rain,” hoped Eric Clapton.
But I’m wishing upon your Central Texas Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain,” Kerbey.
Droughts frighten me.
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You’re giving me more googling homework. Why can’t you just wish raindrops to keep falling on my head? Then I won’t feel so dumb. 🙂
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OK, BJ Thomas to you, Kerbey.
But check out Bob anyway.
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This sounds pretty until his goober voice starts in, and then I don’t get it. Why can’t he just sing like a normal person? Or take a decongestant?
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You have not yet acquired the Bob Dylan goober voice affection, Kerbey? Shame on you. The goober I dig. The mumble, I hate. He was a goober until this century, then he became the mumble.
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I realize he is adored by many. I like it when other people do covers of his “To Make You Feel My Love.” Does that count?
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You are OK in my book no matter your Dylan tastes, Kerbey. He is more liked by folks who lived through his golden age, like me. When he was on the edge in the 60s and 70s, goodness, the man really did speak his piece, for peace, in a very unique way.
So, in other words, cool that you like covers. But as far as his voice goes, I guess you had to be there.
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Sometimes it pays to be 56.
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Most of the time it pays to be 32 like you.
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Yeah, that’s the ticket, plus or minus a decade.
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How bout Dylan’s “A hard rain’s gonna fall”
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Great post on a sad subject.
I should come home; maybe I could bring a little rain in my pocket.
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If you have that power, by all means, take a red-eye.
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So sad to hear this. All the years I spent in the Southwest made me appreciate water. You certainly have my prayers for rain.
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Muchas gracias.
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still smiling that you went out and danced 🙂 Here’s hoping for many more rain dances. The drought sounds like bad bad news. I’ll keep praying!
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Me, too!
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I was tricked into thinking this was another upbeat catchy post since we started out with Eddie Rabbit, “Showers washed all my cares away…I wake up to a sunny day…oh I love a rainy night!” But I find that we’re in the same boat, stuck side by side in a sandbar. Last year I was drowning this year I’m thirsty. It’s all about me, you see? At least we understand each other. Mostly. Well wishes fellow draught-aholic. xoxo
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I did wake up to a sunny day, so now it’s all about me again. 🙂 Drowning to thirsty–well, what’s the cliche? It’s “all about balance.” Tell the skies that!
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I even went out and danced in it
Photos or it didn’t happen. 🙂
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It was dark at night. It didn’t happen.
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