It’s random story time here at Curmudgeon Compound…
I stepped out of the Dr. Office feeling like I’d met an angel. The first doctor in years that has been smart, aware of medical pros and cons, and seemed to care if I live or die. A miracle!
I bump into him in the hallway. Someone is handing him his keys.
“Looks like it’ll rain.” He says.
“If it rains, I’ll get wet.” I shrug.
He smiles as if I’ve said the deepest thing ever. With most doctors I’d assume he’s mentally chiding me for owning a bike; assuming I’ll pancake into a Kenworth within a fortnight. With this cat it’s hard to say. Dummies and NPCs are an open book. It’s hard to judge smart people.
I head out to the lobby and all hell is breaking loose. “SEVERE STORM WATCH” is being announced on a PA. Everyone looks at me, the dumbass with a motorcycle.
They’re lowering the shades on the windows.
“Afraid of blowing debris?” I ask.
“It’s policy.”
“You have a policy to lower the shades during storms?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The lady messing with the shades vapor locks. She has no idea.
Well, that’s that. The blissful moments after meeting a good mind are gone. I’m back with the toads who’re drawing shades because someone wrote that on a piece of paper. Might even be a good idea. What do I know?
At a desk I ask a woman for details about the storm watch. When did it start? How long? What area?
She has no idea but hands over her cell phone. She’d been watching a radar animation. A wicked looking streak of red and orange is headed our way.
“Looks like I’ll go half a mile and hole up at the burger joint.” I say.
“Be careful.” Her eyes are wide. Like I’m going to fight a dragon.
I thank her and head to the foyer. That’s weird, not a drop of rain is falling. I hastily zip up my jacket and don my helmet. I step out into the air. Now I can see the situation more clearly.
To the north, it looks like hell itself is on its way to flatten the county. To the east. The sky is clear. We’re under a broad, well defined, black edge… the edge of a system that’s not messing around. The air feels tense. Clearly all hell is going to break loose and very soon.
My plan was to ride to the burger joint. I’m starving anyway. But I want to go east. The sky is clear to the east. I judge that black edge, moving with the resolution of a bulldozer… it’s in motion. Flowing fast.
How fast? Motorcycle fast?
Decision time.
My tires are good, the pavement is still dry, the bike is in proper repair, I’m a pretty good rider, and I spent a fortune on this jacket (which is supposedly rainproof). I fire up the bike. Left toward the receding clear sky, or right to a burger joint half a mile away in the gloom. In that direction a streetlight is clicking on; it’s that dark and it’s the middle of the afternoon.
This is what we train for.
I’m going for it!
Within 10 seconds of stepping to where I could get a good view, my plan of “hunker down” has become “bug out”. 30 seconds later I’m in the saddle and rolling onto the main road.
I see lightning in the mirror. I see the edge of that black cloud right overhead. The tempting clear sky in front of me is a couple miles out; toward the east. Throttle up!
Turns out I made the right call. Ten minutes later I get out from under the gloom. The storm was moving fast but not motorcycle fast. Not a single raindrop fell on me.
Once I was in the clear I stopped to take a few photos. The grandeur of nature is amazing. Lets all pause and acknowledge that when nature tries to kill you, she does so beautifully.
I watch a bit for funnel clouds. I’m not seeing any. The storm begins to catch up. It’s not headed my way but it’s so huge that it’s growing toward the east as most of it’s massive size flows to the south.
Cheeky of me to have stopped!
I hop back on and ride the rest of the way home. The storm nips on my heels but never catches me. I park in the garage nice and dry.
“I made a very good decision.” I repeat to myself, thinking of nature’s deadly storms and society’s madness at the same time.
I hang up my jacket, pet the dog, and take off my riding boots.
BOOM… the wall of weather hits the house. The dog whines. The temperature drops twenty degrees in five minutes. Sure would suck to be out in that!
I spent the rest of the evening reading a good book and calming the dog. It had been a good day.
Come on man, you tell us you took photos, but then you don’t show them. Where’s the photos?
Good point. I’ll post some Monday.
I loved that story
Thanks.
Policy. The official declaration that individuals are not allowed to think.
Best series post in a while. Thank you!!
Glad you liked it!
“Because somebody wrote it down.” I joined the Calif. Army Guard 11 years to the day (total co-inkydink) after getting out of the USAF. This is 1984, it’s a tank support unit 15 minutes from home. Why join? Because there’s freebees, and I’ll be in the Armament section with my buddies. 1st annual training, we go to Ft. Erwin (Barstow) Where Patton trained. Go WAAAY out to the range, set up camp, a 100-130 week end warriors. An hour later, tear down camp, move to the other side of the dirt road. OMG, WTF!? Everyone else is just handling it, I’m suffering major dis-cog! Finally, I talk to the right guy, “There’s no particular reason, it’s just policy.” A precursor of “Idiocracy”. Wham! I understood. I accepted it. It was a great learning experience that has helped me the rest of my life.
I’ve done that. Always a good feeling when you race a storm front and win, and are home under your roof when it bursts upon the house. You’re right, the tough ones are often lovely to see…from a little distance, and with a good lead on ’em.
Of course, I’ve lost some of those races. The important thing is to try, judiciously, and to learn a lesson when you lose, for the next decision time.
Yep, and when you get right down to it mostly you’re just risking a thorough soaking.
The doctor visit and this are really nice, feel-good posts, thanks!
Glad you like it.