The kids are always startled when they wake up to a storm in the morning. They’re also starting to get protective of their postal-working father. “Dad, it’s raining. Do you have a rain coat or umbrella?”
Looking out from the porch, I tell them to not worry about me, though I don’t mention that my rain gear has since fallen apart due to age and overuse. “I’ll be fine, kids. I’ve walked in worse.”
They worry enough as it is, but it heartens the 6yr old. Ever since discovering the American Tall Tales, she’s said that I was one of those legendary figures. “Dad can walk 12 miles in a storm no not get his feet wet!” she said to the teacher at drop off, this morning. The 4yr old son pats at my shirt as we leave and says “You walk in the rain but you’re never wet!”
Best believe I’m going to hold on to that. They’ll be teenagers soon enough and realize that their dad is just some goofy weirdo, but for now, I’m a legend.
Of course, the morning storm does remind me to check the weather report for the upcoming days.
Sigh…somehow I got to keep my feet dry through all of that, or the myth is broken. Something to think about.
On the way in, I told the 6yr to keep an eye on the sky and track the storm. It’s something you pick up on when your work environment is *gestures at the world around myself* and keeping an eye on the sky helps when you want to know when the storm will break.
She pointed at the cloud formation while we sat in the drop-off line and said, “Dad, the storm will break there!” She’s right, but she doesn’t know how she knows it, yet. She’s got good instincts.
Annoyingly, it’s also a good day for writing, but it’s a work day, made tougher with the news that I’ll be working on another route that is also walking. Hopefully, I’ll catch a few spots of quiet to get my notes down.
With that, it’s time to sling letters and somehow keep my feet dry in the storm.
Stay safe, readers!
-JB Swift
Swift's Corner 