rain

You might remember that at the end of this post I mentioned that the roof rack system would be great as long as it didn’t rain.

The rain began right around hour 8 of the trip.  I could tell that it was darker then it should be for 2pm.  I was sort of in denial.  I knew it could rain but just hoped that it was sprinkles and that it would not cause it to rain inside the car.  But it didn’t sprinkle.  The first rain drops to hit the car were about the size of a quarter.  Just a couple.  And then it was a downpour.  I saw a sign for a rest area in 2 miles but before I could arrive at it Ladybug was complaining that it was raining in the car.  I am not one of those people who ever feels comfortable stopping on the side of a highway.  I always drive to the next exit.

Since the drivers door is the only door that doesn’t have an “oh shit” handle, I was the only thing not getting wet.  My purse and the portable DVD player case were getting wet in the front seat.  Ladybug’s sleeping bag and bag-o-toys were getting wet behind me.  And Ladybug and her car seat were also getting wet in the back seat. 

I stopped but there was no cover to park under so I grabbed my umbrella and held it in one hand while frantically trying to climb half way up the car to undo bungee cords.  I am sure it looked graceful.  We waited for a few minutes but it really looked like there was no chance of it letting up soon so I decided that I had to get back on the road.

So it is pouring.  Puddles are forming.  Some cars have slowed down but the big semi trucks are driving like there is no weather issue to consider.  I am scared that I am going to see the swing go tumbling off my car in my rear view mirror.  And I am aware of every little rattle and noise (even the ones I can identify as ones coming from inside the car).  My speed has dropped way down (to about 50 MPH) but luckily so have a lot of other people.  All I can think about is at this rate my predicted 17 hour trip is likely to turn into a 20+ hour trip – which doesn’t seem so do-able to me.

After about ½ hour the rain stops.  I notice that the car behind me is keeping its distance.  Now maybe he is just a nice driver that doesn’t tailgate but I fear it is because he something going on on top of my car that I am not yet aware of.  But since the rain has stopped I decide to stop and reattach the bungees – at least to give me a peace of mind.

When I get out of the car I discover – duh duh duh – everything is fine.  Nothing has shifted.  Nothing has blown off and decapitated a driver behind me (seriously, I catastrophize like this).  I re-attach the bungees.  Now I am at a gas station just off a major highway.  Everybody at this gas station is traveling on this major highway.  There appears to be no town in sight.  I am a single woman climbing on top of my car.  And nobody offers to help.  I have become the homeless bag lady begging on the streets that nobody looks at because if they do they might be driven to assist in someway.  It is not that I needed to help – I can do this by myself -- but there is a part of me that would have liked the offer.

Oh but the rain escapades are not over…

Mean Mama