Rain at last….
It started raining last night — in fits and starts. All day today there’d be misty rain followed by overcast skies and then maybe more rain. Maryland was in a drought — 34 days without rain, with temperatures most days in the mid-70s to high 80s. I’m enjoying the sound and the smell of rain. It’s very pleasant to have not just rain, but the slow drippy kind that soaks into the soil and down through to wherever the wetness goes to help wells and water tables.
On the other hand, Southern California is having another day of fires sweeping through the canyons and destroying homes as well as trees, brush, and the creatures that live hidden from view. The winds are driving the fires — the news today said hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from the burning areas. I feel almost guilty enjoying the rainy end to our drought when these people are losing their homes. Especially since people I know live very near those areas. None have had to suffer from anything more that soot and smoke, but they’re still living with the threat, while I sit back drinking coffee and enjoying the rain.
To make matter worse, I heard that some of the more recent fires are arson. You really have to wonder about the thought processes that someone has to have gone through to decide that it’s a good idea setting fires in an area that’s already in flames, with firefighters stretched thin and exhausted. Maybe they don’t think at all. Shouldn’t arsonists all just line up to see the beautiful display of fire that nature is displaying rather than setting fires of their own? I can’t come up with a motivation for this behavior — nope, can’t think why a sentient being would do such a thing — maybe they aren’t sentient — they just look the part.