Is this really Texas?

I grew up in Washington state, about 30 minutes from the coast. I'm used to rain and lots of it. It was really interesting to move to Texas, where it hardly ever seems to rain, and when it does it dumps buckets. Apparently the warm Gulf air meeting the cold air from Canada creates some pretty spectacular storms. You know how they say everything's bigger in Texas? Lightning storms, hail, and raindrops all fit the bill.

We've had a drought for the last couple of years, though. Watering restrictions, boat ramps closing because the water level is too low, ponds drying up, all par for the course for the last couple of summers. The first summer I was here, it was 100 degrees on May 1st. I could count on the heat roaring in at full blast by the time school let out, before Memorial Day.

But you know what? Apparently a LOT of people prayed for rain, and all of their prayers are being answered. Right this very minute. It's the first week of July, in Dallas, and not only is the drought over,but people all over the state are being evacuated and losing their homes--not from wildfires, like the last couple of years, but because of flooding! There are pictures on the news every day of mobile homes floating away, creeks and rivers overrunning their beds, streets filling up, cars turned upside down and washed down the stream. This year's June ended up being the second-wettest June that Dallas has had. Ever! We got something like 10+ inches of rain; normal is about 2", and last year I think we had less than ½" total for the month. The ground is so saturated that there's just nowhere for the water to go anymore.

I love seeing the lightning storms, but I'm just blown away by how wet it is. Tomorrow night, Tuesday, is the big Addison fireworks extravaganza, and there is a very real chance that it will be rained out. And for the last six weeks, I've been planning a surprise birthday party for Jeff and Levi at the city Rec Center pool. I'm getting more and more worried that I'll have to cancel!

Honestly, if I didn't know better, I'd think I was still in Washington. At least there, I would've expected a rainy, wet summer with only a few sun breaks.