Inundate

Inundate- tv- to overwhelm someone with a huge quantity of things that must be dealt with; to flood, to fill a place with water.

The day started out sunny and warm.  In Ohio, it would have been a perfect summer day.  Here in SC, just another February morning.  Robins were singing, mockingbirds were flying from tree to tree squawking incessantly, those white birds I still haven't identified were searching the land for bugs.  The sun was filtering in through the pine trees and casting a rosy glow on the apartment buildings.  Martins Creek was at peace.

By noon, the clouds were starting to fill the sky.  At first, it was just a few wispy clouds, but you could see the heavy storm clouds off in the distance.  Not too far from Summerville, someone was getting drenched, but right now, all was well in the town.

Just a few short hours later, I finally had an opportunity to peer out the window.  Where once there had been a peaceful and enjoyable spring day there were now large, dark clouds floating in quickly from the southwest.  The wind had picked up, and through the front windows of the clinic I watched a parade of pine cones, Spanish moss, and pine needles float by. 

This is when I started to plan.  You see, all day long I had been keeping an eye on the weather, because I had heard we were supposed to get storms, and storms in South Carolina are like no other.  The thunder is louder, the lightning brighter and more persistent.  The rain falls straight down in some of the largest drops you've ever seen, and all of this is happening at a frantic pace.  The worst storm I remember in Ohio is on par with the storms usually seen here.  Therefore, knowing this I started planning how I was going to get out of the clinic right at 5:00 p.m. and beat the storm home- before the roads became covered with standing water, before the rain started falling so hard I couldn't see ahead of me, and before the lightning and thunder got so strong that I would scream in surprise at each strike (It's sad.  And true.)

Finally, at 4:30, my last client was out the door.  Hurriedly I reviewed my notes for the day, checking for perfection.  Swiftly and thoroughly I cleaned the lab (Keri, I clean the lab better than I ever cleaned the doughnut case), and with that same speed I straightened my office and headed to the shredder with my confidential documents from the day.  I had my lunch box in hand and was poised to make a break for it, and I had ten minutes to spare.

4:50 p.m. "Kate, the client says they lost their keys.  Help us look for them."  Okay, I can do this.  We'll find them.

4:59 p.m. "Kate, we've looked everywhere and still can't find them.  Let's check again."  Ahhh!!! A worried glance let me see that rain was beginning to fall.

5:01 p.m. "Can you go look through the trash cans?"  Aside from the used infant diapers inside, it's still a trashcan, and still gross.  Also, the wind was starting to pick up.  I want to go now...

5:05 p.m. "Well, we've checked everywhere.  I guess you can go...I'm going to stay here with them until someone comes to pick them up.  That way they're not huddled out in the rain.  Poor babies."  Guilt trips don't work, especially when I see the family climbing into their car.  Keys were in her pocket the entire time.  Now the sky is black.

5:10 p.m. "Kate, you're back!  Hey! Don't give me that look!"  I almost walked out of the office without my cell phone and had to back track.  I'm not going to make it.

5:11 p.m.  I took a deep breath and made a run for it.  The rain was falling harder than before, and now the parking lot was full of large, deep puddles.  Not only was I wearing flats- I was wearing flats made out of fabric that seems to drink the water and, as I had discovered earlier in the day, had holes in the seams of the heels.  Not a good combo.  Rain was running down my face, and I was questioning why I thought the car was a good place for my umbrella that morning.

After I reached the car and hurried to get in the seat, I took a few minutes to recover.  My shoes HAD to be off because I can't stand wearing wet shoes.  I clipped my hair up so it would stop dripping water down my back and arms.  I dug up every napkin I had stored in the car to dry my face and get the water out of my eyes and then dry my hands so I could actually grip the steering wheel.

Inundated yet again by a Carolina storm.  Maybe if I had been going somewhere special or wearing something nice, I'd have been mad, but for today I didn't mind it all that much.  And to be frank, even if I had been going somewhere special and been inundated with all that rain, I still would have had the good end of the deal, because in a small town just an hour from my house, a tornado went through and destroyed one home and damaged another.  Craziness!

Here's hoping to a week of nice weather for everyone!  Happy Leap Day!