School's Out For. . . Rain?

Being stuck inside for most of the past week with Covid, I'd paid little attention to the weather forecast. I knew a hurricane was coming, but being unable to explore much past my rear fence, the predictions for wind and rain didn't much matter.

Still, like my neighbors, I could feel it yesterday.

The treetops bent beneath the wind.

As if knowing their fate, the weakest branches in the old oak tree behind my house let go.

The pressure and humidity levels changed.

I couldn't see them, but I know for sure that every man around here over the age of 60 (and half those over the age of 30) stood in their backyard, gazed towards the heavens, and muttered to anyone who would listen, "There's a storm a-brewing. Best make ready to hunker down."

Meanwhile, the local supply of bread, water, and milk seemed to evaporate.

When my daughter got home from school, she told me class had been preemptively canceled.

I thought nothing of it and went about my evening.

Last week we tore out the kitchen at a property I'm renovating. Flooring, cabinets, lighting, appliances - all of it - out the door and into the dumpster. The cabinets, site-built in the '50s, had a soffit above them, as was common at the time.

The soffits were built before the ceiling installation, so removing them left giant gaps where there was no ceiling - just rafters.

And, as I found out yesterday, the ceiling is plaster.

Now, there are a couple of ways to address this. Your typical lipstick-on-a-pig-flipper would screw up a few layers of sheetrock in the gaps, smooth it over with some lightweight mud, and not worry about the cracks that would start showing in about a year.

That's not my style.

I called Bob, one of my demo guys, about 6:00 last night. Like most demo guys, tearing out stuff is a side gig. Landscaping is his bread and butter, and with 4" of rain predicted, there won't be much of that today.

"Hell yes, we'll work tomorrow," he said, "the boys need something to do while this rain passes."

This morning, Bob's guys are likely already on the job site covered in plaster dust.

Meanwhile, my daughter, and every other kid around here, are peacefully sleeping, knowing they don't have to be at school today.

Because it's raining.

And although I thought nothing of it last night, I'm thinking a lot about it this morning.

What message are we sending our kids?

Look, I get that there could be some inconveniences for some folks, given the implications of 4" of rain over 24 hours. We will undoubtedly have some flooded roads, especially in the rural areas.

And it might worsen traffic, and people might get stuck somewhere for a while.

But, absent someone doing something stupid, ain't nobody dying from it.

It's just rain!

If school is preparation for life, we're sure as hell not doing a good job with it today.

Elections are coming up, and spots on the school board are up for grabs.

Even though he's not running, I think I'll vote for Bob.