WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN?

As we all MORE than know, 2019 has been deluged with extremely wet Spring and Summer seasons.

Regional crops are, according to the area’s agricultural experts, far down from what they should be at this time of the year. Every “growing” thing seems to bear the effects of the rain and dismal weather.

To be expected, my home gardens are displaying the same negative consequences. Tomato plants are showing the signs of unusually diseased leaves…zucchini leaves are huge, but the fruit has yet to appear…roses are hanging in there, and fighting for their lives…lima beans are MORE than pathetic. Grape vines seem to be doing well…growing beyond every expected boundary.

HOWEVER, the most prolific crop on our property are the weed beds…growing beyond comprehension (of course)! In speaking with other area gardeners, they all agree to be sharing the same situation.

A TIME TO CELEBRATE

All of these days, and weeks, and MONTHS of inclement weather brings in recollection a Time from the early 1980’s for myself and Carolyn.

We wed on Saturday, the weekend before Easter Sunday in 1983. Both being employed, at that time, by the Pittsburgh Public Schools, we were looking forward to enjoying our week-long Easter vacation on our new Espyville property.

In fact, this respite is what we planned as our Honeymoon Vacation. What better way to celebrate our new Life together, than camping on our future homeland? Spending every moment of every day and night together planning how we would transform our “wetlands” into a residential PALACE! WE were more than excited and overcome with Joy!

BUT…

The day of our wedding was beautiful! The weather was perfect…we couldn’t have asked for a better Time. The following day, was also exceptional. After a brief morning hike in the local State Park near where we were living at that time, we hustled back to our residence and started to pack for our Honeymoon. After what seemed like an Eternity of hours, we were finally “all set.”

Early the next morning, we climbed into our little truck and headed to our beloved property.

As we drove further Northward on Interstate 79 just outside of Zelienople, tiny drops of moisture began to decorate the windshield of our vehicle. NO BIG DEAL! The Pittsburgh weather reports indicated that no foul weather was in sight for the balance of our Honeymoon…at least that was true for Pittsburgh. NOT SO for the Northwestern part of the Commonwealth, including Erie, Meadville, and, of course, Espyville.

Nevertheless, we proceeded on our trip, never pausing to reflect upon the worsening circumstances, nor to cater to the whims of Mother Nature.

Eventually, we pulled up to our land. WETLANDS??? WETLANDS?? NAHH…more like the Everglades!

Once again, being undaunted and totally mesmerized with the Joy of our Future together, we unpacked…opened our tiny Coleman pop-up camper…and proceeded to try to stay dry. GOOD LUCK!

No campfires for the week of our Honeymoon. AND, the most unexpected result: the Coleman would NOT keep out the torrential downpours.

So…with little recourse, we decided after a few days to head back down to our home outside of Pittsburgh. Disappointed? Naturally…but, not completely dismayed. For the Easter Holiday week would be simply the first of innumerable weekends we would have as precursors to the approaching Summer season.

HA…HA!!!

Nope, it simply didn’t work-out the way we expected. For the next twelve weekends after our Easter Vacation/Honeymoon escapade, it rained…buckets, after buckets for nearly three succeeding months. Did we “give-up?” NOPE!

So what if the weather was uncooperative! Why should that stop us, or anyone, from experiencing the wonders of our Region? IT DIDN’T.

The farmers continued to prepare their fields. The boats of folks fishing our great Pymatuning still continued to enjoy their days on the water. And us??? Well, we threw some tarps over the Coleman pop-up, and cozied into our new Life.

A NEW LANGUAGE

As the months and years progressed, we learned a new vocabulary totally appropriate to our future home. We discovered the meanings of: sump pump, culvert, French Drain, Weatherbetas, perk-tests, and many, many more words and phrases.

We also learned (only TOO well)the complications and dire wet consequences of allowing our contractor to install a basement area in our new home.

THE CLOUDS ROLL ON BY

This season, as mentioned, has been extremely wet. The rains seem to be around washing us nearly every day.

Perhaps, my actions during several of these showers could be described as somewhat “interesting.”

On more than a few of these days, I have ventured outside and simply stood beneath the downpours.

As the gentle drops caressed my face and closed eyes, I reflected not only upon those days back in 1983, but also upon the experiences of many, many years. The drops seemed to somehow wash away and eradicate the worries and problems that I have faced…as we all have faced throughout our Lives.

The rain??? A Gift??? Perhaps…but, so is the Sunlight which follows the downpours.

As long as I remember

The rain’s been comin’ down

Clouds of mystery pourin’