Waterlogged

Ten days ago, tropical storm Fay whipped into Tallahassee and decided to stay around a few days. Uninvited. I have been in humid, tropical climates most of my life. As Fay settled in on Friday night, I as okay without electricity. I slept well until awakened at 3 A.M. (no epiphany here) when power returned. I began to feel a little waterlogged by the time the power came back on Saturday evening after five hours without it again.

I went out to clean the cats’ box. It was damp, but not undoable. High humidity damp. Yin’s and Yang’s box is located on my roofed and screened in porch, close to their cat door.

Sunday, a break in the weather occurred. I mistakenly went out at ten for a one o’clock appointment. I discovered that Barnes and Noble doesn’t open before eleven on Sunday. Armed with umbrella, my writing paraphernalia and a jacket, I was drenched before I could return to my car. Once home, I discovered that my jacket was gone. I probably dropped it when I tried to close the umbrella without soaking myself getting into my car. My car felt like a cave that drips water from every pore, caused by the dripping umbrella. When I returned to the mall at one, I took a plastic bag for the jacket. Just in case. Plastic shopping bag and a jacket were good to go on the floor of my car.

Sunday night I went out to clean the litter box. The carpet on the porch was soaked, the new box of cat litter next to the house was wet, and water dripped off the plastic scoop and the boxed sandwich bags nearby. I, too, dripped water by the time I went inside. No rainwater fell on me. I may be about 90% water, but at that moment, I was at least 98%. It was as if a wet fog from one of Stephen King’s novels had enveloped me and I would never feel dry again.

Monday, a little sunshine arrived and I ventured out in my car to get cat food. I drove by the turn off to Lake Ella. It was flooded almost to Meridian. My porch was still embalmed in fluid air. Not until yesterday, Sunday, was I able to get outside and clean up my porch. That was after two days of constantly running the ceiling fan on high. I now have dry carpet and a porch that I can enjoy again.

I still don’t have the motivation to clean up my two decks that are filled with debris from the storm. However, I did wash and clean out my car.

I am feeling back to normal. Almost.