Can weather be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder? Given the last 3 weeks outside my front door, I'm convinced all signs and symptoms would indicate said term as an accurate diagnosis. Nearly a handful of times just in the last two weeks there has been 4 inches of snow to greet the new day. By mid-afternoon it's melted, and from 6:00 on the neighborhood is filled with the delicious aroma of barbecues grilling. Two days ago after nearly 24 hours of rain/snow, the sun came out and began to dry things off. I immediately bee-lined it for the shed, grabbed the lawn mower and trimmer and raced to the front yard to beat the next storm. I leaned over and made a fast swipe with my bare hand across the grass. Closer to dry than wet. Good enough. Then I darted into the garage, grabbed my work gloves and the gas can. Racing back to my 'yardies', I felt the wind kick up.
Mother nature had thrown down the gauntlet. Now it was a race to the finish and I was on a quest. Come on Shan, pour the gas in quickly ... don't spill ... forget the wind, forget those ominous clouds, just get this yard in shape before your window of opportunity slams shut. Edger filled, check. Mower filled, check. OK Shan, (I'm telling myself) don't forget to think nice thoughts when you start this edger. It's old and temperamental. I leaned over, grabbed the handle on the rope and I swear I saw an inscription next to the choke that said "Martin Willey Handcart Co." I scratched my head. Huh, wouldn't surprise me a bit.
OK, come on little edger, you can do it. I pulled once. Nothing. Again. Nothing. The third time it sputtered, burped then creaked and spat so I knew I was almost there. One last pull... and ... BINGO! Score. As I stood up, something small and cold pelted me in the forehead. Please no! Yep. It was hail, and within a nano-second the wind swept the freezing B B's with power and fury in every direction.
My head hung in shame with defeat. - Not really tho, I was just trying to dodge these mini bullets pelting me from every angle. I grabbed both 'yardies' and sprinted to the shed clocking a speed that would rival Olympians.
From the shed to the house (which is all of 10 giant steps if you're playing "Mother May I") I walked through the door on the deck and realized I was DRENCHED. Sopping wet, ring-your-clothes-out soaked to the bone.
Three hours later the sun was back out accompanied by a few white fluffy clouds dancing in the breeze all against a deep crisp blue sky. It was so incredibly beautiful. For a split second I thought about tearing into round two, but decided not to tempt Mother Nature twice in one day. So I grabbed a book I'm reading, pulled the lounge chair around to face the sun, fixed myself something cold to drink and sat back to soak up this amazing afternoon. I opened my book, read a page and a half when literally out of nowhere a gust of wind kicked up as heavy, dark clouds simultaneously hovered above me as if to say, "Wanna bet?"
I called 'uncle'.
