Tonight's post has nothing to do with the photographs I'm showing, but I feel the need for sunshine and clear skies.This afternoon's deluge of rain took it's toll. Here's the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
It all started around 1:30 p.m. when it started raining in Fort White. I knew a bad rainstorm was coming because Mom called me yesterday to share her weather wisdom. "No problem," I thought. Rain is rain and nothing more and we needed a good rain.
Ha!
Since our school had been under a Code Purple (tornadic conditions favorable) all day long and since I had actually seen the red triangle encompassing Columbia County on the weather station on the television perched high in the ceiling in the front office, I knew Mom's forecasting was indeed true.
Well, the day wore on and on and on with sprinkles here and there. Then finally, 2:00 p.m. rolled around and by then the rain is pouring down. Teachers and students alike were hustling to the busses via covered walkways, trying to beat the heavy rains. I noticed the sky was green in hue and thought, "Hmmm. Tornadic conditions, bringing back a flood of childhood memories of Trenton, Tennessee and the tornados we witnessed wile living there.
Then the flashes and crackles of lightning pierced the rain. BOOM! Thunderous roars rumbled in the sky. But no problem. I was safe in my classroom. But in a hare's breath, I noticed something on the floor moving. I did a double-take because, of course, I thought it was a snake.
HA! HA!
Water was creeping into my classroom ever so quietly. After getting my bearings and putting two and two together, (duh) I realized my room was getting flooded.
I then looked to the front door of my classroom and saw the rain was heavier. Now it was raining cats and dogs! But my eyes wandered toward the bottom of the front door and I saw water gurgling and bubbling under the door and rapidly seeping into my classroom. And it was spreading and spreading.
Now with my imagination still in gear from my last class's narrative lesson, I thought about the old 50's movie, The Blob. Quickly, I had enough sense to look around the class for anything placed on the floor.
"The Gummie Burgers!" I yelped. Then I froze. I knew at this point my shoes were going to get soaked. But I rescued the Gummie Burgers anyway. I snatched them out of their cardboard boxes and tossed them on the round table. Meanwhile, the cardboard box began floating toward the back of the room. Now in a weird sort of way, that was pretty cool looking.
"Copy Paper!" I blurted. So again I sloshed across the room and tore through the cardboard box, saving my precious copy paper. But in the meantime. The body of water (The Blob) has reached the center of my room and is heading toward the only free-standing dry desk area where I had placed myself.
Lost. Hopeless. Meanwhile the deluge of rain continued to beat the sidewalk, soaking car-rider children and paraprofessionals. I could hear their shrieks when the lightning cracked, but I was stranded in the center of my room.
So...to make a long story short, the children got in their cars, I waded through two feet of water to the back gate and I made it home, soaked to the bone.
There is a real big down side to today's deluge. I will not be able to teach in my classroom for a while. My fingers are crossed that the county office sends big water suckers out to suck up my flooded classroom, new carpet will be laid, and I will resume classes as usual.
I said. . .my fingers are crossed!
I hope they solve the water problem in your classroom soon. You definitely don't need to be teaching in a mildew-covered classroom.
Posted by: merry jennifer | January 22, 2010 at 03:36 PM
I love this building...where is it?
Posted by: sherry pearl | January 26, 2010 at 02:16 PM