Cathy in the Wright

When Soybeans Go Three Rounds With A Hail Storm, The Beans Always Lose

This is a shot of our neighbor's bean field. There are supposed to be leaves on those green shoots. The Outpost weathered a bad storm tonight. Fortunately, no broken windows. Most of the neighborhood wasn't so lucky however.

This is one small spot in our front yard. Now multiply by one small township. The plants didn't have a chance.

A view of our front deck. Just about every square inch of sidewalk, driveway, and yard looks the same.

The Governor and I had driven The Senator and VP to a church on the south side of town where they were joining up with other father/son combinations for a trip to the BWCA. As we waited in the parking lot, we saw the most amazing cloud formations - layered, tumbling clouds - not quite swirling, but definitely rolling. We watched until the temperature took a sudden drop, and then we all decided to wait inside the church. Some of the parents swore they saw a funnel dip down and return to the clouds, but the excitement passed. I don't even think it rained at the church.

Meanwhile....back at the ranch: My in-laws were in their basement shouting to be heard over the sound of grape-to-baseball-sized hail hitting their house. As The Governor and I drove home we realized our little township had been nailed. Yards were filled with thousands of leaves that had been stripped off trees. Cornfields leveled. Gardens destroyed. My geranium pots look like someone took a weed whip to them. And the smell. Freshly shredded foliage. Oak leaf smoothie. Take one deep breath and all you can think is "green."

But, as one who always looks for the proverbial silver lining, I have to say that some good came out of this storm. Our neighbor with the destroyed bean field can sell the acreage to a developer for more money because it's now riverfront property.

School Is Out

Yesterday was the last day of class for The Senator. His teacher informed her students on Wednesday that they could bring pop and candy for the last couple of hours of school when they would finish watching a movie.

I had mixed emotions on that one. Scarfing a bunch of treats and washing it all down with more sugar didn't sit particularly well, especially because The Senator had to test for his next belt in his Tae Kwon Do class that evening. And yet, I just couldn't bring myself to declare, "Soy milk and rice cakes!" Not when the Senator looked at me with pleading eyes and begged, "Just this once, ma'am?" (Ma'am! These TKD lessons are paying off big time.)

So what did I do? I caved. Spectacularly. Wednesday night I went out and bought fruit snacks and Mountain Dew. Mountain Dew. The forbidden nectar. The soda that is never allowed. That's right: Mom bought pop. And not just any pop, but the Holy Grail of pop. The Senator could not believe his good fortune.

I had to lay down a restriction to suck a little of the joy out of the experience.

You WILL NOT drink that entire bottle in class. Understand? You have your belt test tonight. I don't want you getting ill beforehand.

Sure, Mom!

He would have promised me his kidneys at that point, but I felt confident he would obey.

When he reached the front door that afternoon, he looked a little peaked. When we sat down for dinner, he looked even more ill.

Are you okay, Senator?

"Umm...I feel a little sick."

Did you drink that whole bottle in class?!

"No. I only drank half of it in class. I drank the other half on the bus on the way home."

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.
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Eat your dinner.

"Mom, I might throw up."

If you do, you'll feel better. I know I will.

He managed to choke down a little food and we headed off to the gym. "Good luck tonight, son. Try not to throw up on Master Roy's shoes."

He pulled through and earned his green belt. And then he wanted to go to Subway.

My turn to feel ill.

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Thanks, Nana