Flash Flood Fretting
Speed Shopping to Avoid The Storm
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 8 secondsAfter enjoying a delicious breakfast, I hurried to Shoprite and Trader Joe‘s to pick up groceries. With the weather forecast warning of possible flash floods, I was determined to avoid any potential danger.
When I entered Shoprite, I saw a woman I had seen before at Nomahgen Park. “It looks like we’re on the same mission today,” she said as we walked towards the entrance. I agreed, mentioning that I wanted to finish shopping before the expected heavy rain. She went left while I continued straight ahead. As we parted ways, I couldn’t help but notice that she was still wearing sweatpants. My wife would only allow me to go out in sweatpants if I’m taking a walk. I should consider wearing them next week.
The flood warnings on my iPhone and Apple Watch kept popping up, disrupting my quick shopping trip. Frustrated, I switched my iPhone to Do Not Disturb mode to focus on my list. Navigating through the aisles, I concentrated on finding the needed items while consciously avoiding distractions. I usually time myself during shopping trips, but after running into someone I knew, I completely forgot to keep track of the time. Surprisingly, when I left the store in under an hour, I was greeted by a serene blue sky with only a hint of puffy clouds in the distance.
As I stepped through the door into the warmth of my home, I hurried to prepare lunch. I paused to reflect on the hasty journey I had embarked on to escape the impending downpour. Despite the persistent drizzle that gradually soaked through my sweatpants during my truncated walk, I remained resolute, celebrating completing my 1201st consecutive day of walking. Seated at my dining table, I gazed out at the sky, searching for any ominous signs of thunderheads. Not finding any, I busied myself with tidying up before succumbing to the temptation of a rejuvenating nap to restore my weary spirit.
Waking up, neither the rain nor the floods had arrived, but I knew we would have severe weather if not today. Climate change has resulted in 2023 being the warmest year until this year. I fretted not about a flash flood but the calamities my grandchildren would face. As I mused about the future, my book on my Kindle app became hard to read. The sky became midnight dark, and the street lights turned on. As I looked out the window, the raindrops were so large they looked like water balloons. The time to act is now.
Time to Take Action On Climate Change
Despite the polluted air and the small red sun that was barely visible due to thick clouds from the forest fires in Canada, I had just finished my morning walk.
