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My Raincoat

 Severe storms were moving through the mountains tonight. After having the flu for the past 8 days, I felt slightly better. Then I had to be out in this mess due to work problems. Rain in sheets and winds in excess of 50 miles an hour were my lot as I climbed in and out of the company truck, unlocking gates and going into a remote area, dealing with troublesome pumps and the like. Bit of a drag for the elderly, I assure you. Must I pay for my misspent youth in this fashion?
     Truth to tell, wouldn't life be boring if you sat in a cube all the time? I did that for a few years and made great money at it, more than I make now. At any rate, I made it home, safe and sound, by the grace of God, and I'm now sipping some red wine. I dried off and I'm feeling pretty good.
    As I drove home on the road from the pit, I saw a wolf start to dart across the road in front of me in the downpour. He ducked back under cover at the last minute. He had a head as big as a hub cap and it would have been just as flat if he hadn't put on his brakes just in time. It's nice to know that only a wolf is as stupid as you are, to be out in such a quagmire.
      Let me tell you about my raincoat. Yeah. My raincoat. This thing, dripping in the corner, was given to me by a grateful military in 1974. Tonight it once again helped protect me from the elements. I probably wouldn't take $10,000 for it. If you could see some of the crummy spots and weather and trouble I've been through while I was wearing that grungy coat. It's beginning to get these odd cracks in it. There are huge globs of tar on it where I got on the roof of a sick friend's house one day and repaired his roof cause he was sick with the flu. It was pouring the rain and colder than a well digger's shovel. My belly makes it fit a little snug now, but after 37 years, it's pretty cool that I can wear it at all. The thing is similar to what the old cowboys called a slicker or a greasecloth. It hangs all the way to mid-calf. (The body part, not the animal.)
     The atmosphere here at the green retreat, tonight, is very neat. It's unseasonably warm, close to 60. It's raining and the wind is howling in the tops of all these 60 foot hardwood trees.
There were numerous limbs down as I drove home. I was very grateful for the new wiper blades on the car. It seems the worst of the lightning has headed east to give the coast a bit of a thrill.
    All this makes me wonder what the weather is like for you guys tonight.  I saw on Google analytics that the countries where I have readers is up in the 60's. Y'all must be pretty bored if you're interested in my life, but I'm glad you are. I was sorry to hear about the thumping you Aussies have been getting from the weather. You'd probably think our winter has been a walk in the park. Of course this is your summer, I take it. I would certainly like to take a trip down under. I guess I'll have to settle for a trip to Outback Steak House. G'day.
    From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.

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