It had been raining for 40 days and 40 nights.
Really.

Cue the biblical jokes.

Here it is – 3 o’clock in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve 1987.
The rain is coming down in sheets.

A damn monsoon.

I’m standing in the dark in a closet with water up to my knees.
And I’m holding a vase with three dead flowers.

I’m wondering how the hell did I get into this.

9:00 AM
I wake to the rumble of thunder and the crack of lightning.
So much for the weather guy on TV saying a sunny day was ahead.

My illegal fireworks plans may be on hold.

10:00 AM
The easement down at the end of the street starts to get plugged with rocks and tree branches.
I get a beer and pull up a big pillow by the front window, thinking to myself this will be interesting.

11:00 AM
The easement is blocked, the water is lapping at the front door and I’m out of beer.
Not shaping up to be a good day.

Noon
I didn’t think it was possible but the rain is coming down harder.
I’m carrying stuff to the second floor, just in case.
The lights go out.

1:00 PM
The water in my house is now up to my ankles but everything is upstairs.
Boy, is the landlord going to be pissed.

2:00 PM
The roof on the second floor starts leaking and a 6 foot section of ceiling crashes onto the bed, followed by what seems a million gallons of water.
It’s dark as a witches heart in the house.

2:45 PM
I’m downstairs wading through the living room when the ceiling there starts coming down.
I grab what I think is the flashlight on the stairs and duck in the safest place I can find.

3:00 PM
I’m standing in the dark in a closet with water up to my knees.
And I’m holding a vase with three dead flowers.

That’s how I got into this.

How was your New Years 1988?