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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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STOMPING THROUGH MUD PUDDLES
We're accustomed to gray skies and rainy weather in the Pacific Northwest, but it has rained every day since December 18th. We're now looking at over 30 consecutive days of rainfall. Of course our rain would be called a sprinkle most places, and it hasn't rained continuously. Still, the ground is pretty soggy. I asked one long-time island resident if she was building an ark yet. She replied, "No, but I do have an inflatable boat in the basement." The record for rainfall in Seattle, set in 1953, is 33 consecutive days. The state record is over 50 days. I have no idea what our record on San Juan Island is, but I've started checking my toes each night for signs of webs forming. Although it's difficult to remember now, there were more sunny days in the fall than we usually get. The temperature has been so warm that a few trees and shrubs are forming buds and spring bulbs are starting to break through the soil. Clearly our strange weather is not an isolated event. The past hurricane season brandished some of the worst destruction on record and tornadoes are springing up in clusters around the country. Some regions are drier than normal. Explanations range form global warming to historical weather cycles to the coming of the "end times" mentioned in the Bible. I don't know what is causing these changes. I'm tired of the rain, too. Yet I clearly remember last year when we were worried about the lack of precipitation here in Washington. Islanders were concerned about wells replenishing. The entire state was wondering about poor snow packs with our dependence on hydroelectric power. It is my hope that meteorologists, and those with more scientific expertise than I have, will figure out what is going on. In the meantime, I'm going to put on my gum boots and go stomp through some mud puddles with the kids down the street.
© 2006 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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