Monday Morning Blues

While I was up on my balcony this morning watching the storm and thinking deep thoughts about the Olympics, folks in the lane were dealing with their own deep matters.

The morning commute required new wading skills.

and for some, emergency roof repairs were in order.

Outside my kitchen door, everything was awash,

and interesting items were floating by.

Since the storm had knocked out our power, I decided to go for a stroll to check things out.

Our lane’s gatekeeper had tried to dam up the entry to his hut,

but the water got in anyhow.

All the neighbors out walking were checking with each other, “You okay?”

As I turned out of the lane to the street, the water just got deeper.

but, surprisingly, business was going on somewhat as usual.

although the streetsweeper seemed a bit out of his league.

“Pre-washed” vegetables took on a new meaning.

Boots were a good idea.

but sometimes weren’t quite tall enough.

Still, no swimming, please!

The fish at the seafood stall often flop right out of their containers; today, they’d be home free.

Oh no, the five-and-dime owner is using her plastic bowls to scoop out water from her shop!

And the watermelons on sale at the office supplies shop are afloat!

But seeing my grimace, the owner just called out to me “Okay, okay!”and kept up sales.

I never thought that I would be walking, literally, in the wake of a BMW on my own street.

while others traveled in style.

I went back home, grateful for my doorstep, to try to read in the dark.  The lane was strangely quiet most of the day, without the usual sounds of power saws and televisions.  Across the way, someone played the piano beautifully, off and on.  By 2:00, when I went out for another stroll, the water had drained and the flooded shops were dry.

Our power came back on around 4:00.

And to think I had wondered what the day after the Olympics would bring.