Sunday, September 4, 2011

Tropical Storm Lee

So near, and yet so far. Tropical storm Lee was spinning a mere 40 miles from here and drenching the area with the rain we so badly need, but its westward progress stalled between the towns of Nacogdoches and Jacksonville. Nearly two feet of rain fell in parts of Louisiana, but all we got to see was a heavy cloud bank hanging on the horizon off to the southeast. At least, the hundred degree days might have ended for the year.

This dry, hot year, combined with the turmoil in the world reminds me of the lyrics in the old Kingston Trio song from the 50’s.



They're rioting in Africa, they're starving in Spain.
There's hurricanes in Florida, and Texas needs rain.
The whole world is festering with unhappy souls.
The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles.
Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch.
And I don't like anybody very much!

But we can be tranquil, and thankful, and proud,
For mans' been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud.
And we know for certain that some lovely day
Someone will set the spark off, and we will all be blown away.

They're rioting in Africa, there's strife in Iran.
What nature doesn't do to us, will be done by our fellow man.