Radar Man

So today all the kids came over to go swimming.

It was hot and muggy, and truthfully, all I could think about during church was floating on my new floaty in the pool. So much for focusing on the homily.

Kids all arrive and we eat first, (this family has its priorities). After lunch, we get ready for some water volleyball and then we hear it.... sirens going off.

EEEEEEEEEYAAAA EEEEEEEYAAAA

We live next to a golf course and the hole closest to us has one of the lightning sirens. If lightening strikes within 5 miles from us, it sounds. Gives us plenty of time to get out of the water before getting fried like pot stickers, or some sort of fried meat.

Hubby goes into his office to emerge with a proclamation, "It will be over in 18 minutes." It is 1:22 , so we figure he calculated when it would pass over us.

He goes back inside and time passes, kids are shooting the breeze, eating dessert now.

1:40 comes and it's still raining. It looks like it is getting worse.

Youngest daughter goes inside to ask him what's going on. "Isn't it supposed to be clear by now?" she wonders aloud.

His reply is that a small cell has sprung up but give it 5, maybe 10 minutes, and we will be happily splashing.

So we wait it out.

Outside.

Under umbrellas, in the pool house, and under towels.

Then it hits.

HAIL.

Where did this come from???

It's bouncing off the tables and chairs. I am scared to come out from under the big umbrella. Someone could get hurt out there. The kids under towels and around the table make a dash for the pool house. Youngest granddaughter screams.

"What's happening???" she wails.

Youngest daughter is inside. Apparently she is asking her dad for a weather update because she comes back to the door and yells out into the hail storm, "He says it will pass over in a few minutes."

Do you think we felt comfortable with that prediction?

Where is he anyway? Why isn't HE out here if it is almost over?

The hail is getting worse. I need to either dash to the already full pool house, or inside. Can't do it, one could get cut out there. Cut bad.

It finally dies down. Granddaughter runs inside and says "I'm not coming out! I'm going to play with my kitty cats." Smart kid.

The pool house crowd is safe and happy. There's a bathroom and a beer fridge in there. And did I mention it has A/C?

It slows to a drizzle and I head inside. Where is he? He is by the computer and I ask him "So when is it going to stop raining?"

He shakes his head and says, "In about 8 minutes. This should be the last cell going over us right now. They just kept popping up."

hmmm It does seem calmer out there.

But then again...

I dry off and go lay down and read for awhile.

The rain starts up again, it's pounding. The kids are all inside by now. They are watching "Hairspray" on TV.

It still is raining.

Finally everyone starts to go home. The day is a washout. Literally.

Hubby says " If y'all can wait a few more minutes this should pass right over us."

They keep on trudging to their cars. Good bye waves, kisses, and hugs are exchanged.

They all leave except for a few who are waiting on youngest granddaughter who doesn't want to go.

"Papa said it's going to stop" she cries. " I want to stay and play in the pool with Papa!"

I look at her and say "Come on, let's get you dressed so you can go home."

Where is hubby???

He is outside.

In the pool.

Sun is shining.

Birds are chirping.

It's hot and after rain muggy.

He yells out "Come on in! I told you it was going to blow over."

Youngest granddaughter yelps in glee and looks at me and says "See??? Papa is always right!"

I suppose so.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.