Running in the Rain

Oh my goodness!!!! I know that I already posted something today, but I had to write about the monster storm that blew through this afternoon. It was so nice and sunny and hot outside all day, until about 4:30 p.m. Then, all of a sudden, these black clouds rolled in, and WHOA!! I seriously have never in my life seen it rain that hard before. I thought I had seen big Mississippi storms in the past, but they paled in comparison to today's little afternoon shower. There was thunder and lightning everywhere, and Tim and I were stuck back in the ranger office, which is about 75 yards out behind the visitor center. We had to lock up the slave cabin, so we ran outside, and it was literally like being hit by a bucket of water. By the time we got everything locked up, we were both soaked to the bone . . . and we still had to make it up to the VC. So I take off running at full speed, but then I realize that I can't see anything--the rain is too heavy. I was trying to wipe my eyes, but they were stinging, and the rain was coming so hard that it was impossible to shield my face from it. I was hoping that I was running in the general direction of the VC, when I heard Ranger Sharon's voice above the thunder saying, "Tiffany! Over here!" I was able to make out Sharon and Nathan standing over by the parking lot with their umbrellas out, so I turned and made a dash for Sharon. Luckily Tim wasn't too far behind me, and we all made it to our cars safely. The driveway out of Melrose was like a muddy lake, and the cypress swamp, which has been kind of low lately, was overflowing. I couldn't believe it! Like I say, I have never seen anything like this storm. I may as well have jumped in a swimming pool--I was that wet. My polyester ranger uniform weighed like 50 lbs. because it was so saturated with water. I had my windshield wipers going full blast all the way home, then I parked my car, and dashed to the house. There was lightning everywhere and these huge cracks of thunder. Needless to say, I was glad to get home. Angie, who had been at the Johnson House, called to see if the Melrose crew was all okay. Luckily she had gotten on her way up to Vicksburg before the worst of it hit. I looked like a drowned rat when I came inside, so I changed clothes, wrung out my uniform, and tried to remove my hair from its plastered position on my head. After it settled down a bit outside, I ventured out and took these pictures of Routhland and the reflection of the house on a small pond that formed out in the trees during the course of the rainstorm. I certainly hope that was the end of this evening's severe weather!

Tonight for dinner, I had some leftover that Ranger Tim got for me at Miss Betty's luncheon this afternoon. Every Friday, Miss Betty has her friends over for lunch, and her cook, Miss Big (who is actually a really tiny lady) makes a feast. Miss Betty lets her resident rangers come to lunch when we have the 1:00 lunch hour, but unfortunately I had lunch at 11:00 today. But Nathan, Kate, and Tim got to go, so they saved me some Salisbury steak, Klondike potatoes, asparagus and onions, and some good ol' greens. It was DELICIOUS!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Miss Big is definitely a good cook. That saying, "Never trust a skinny chef" doesn't apply to her in the least. I'd eat her creations any day. I always thought that everyone called her "Miss Big" because she's so little, but maybe it's because everyone she cooks for gets really big!