Words From a Wise Man

  It is funny how the rains come here on the Bayou.  I guess they are no more unusual than anywhere else except for the fact that I can see the rain long before it gets here.  This morning when I headed to the pier, the sky above was actually sort of bright...overcast but bright.  (If that makes any sense.)  Once on the pier, I had a clear view of the early morn's weather and it did not bode well for me!  I can see all the way across the Bay to Keesler Air Base...usually!  This morning, that view was well blocked by rain.  It felt a bit strange to have an entire city blocked from view.  The whole incident sort of reminded me of the old musical, "Brigadoon".  (Which, by the way, is one of my all time favorites!)  I knew that I should be seeing buildings but they just were not there.  The clouds and rains had engulfed the other side of the Bay making everything virtually invisible.

  I had good intentions of spending a good bit of my morning fishing for crab bait but that did not happen.  After about ten minutes, a wide black streak started inching its way across the water toward me.  Uh, oh! This was not good!  I knew what that darkness on the water was...rain! Heavy rain!  It was time to scoot back up that hill to the shelter that the Little Bayou House provides!  I turned just in time to notice two kayaks being paddled around the bend.  Not good...not good at all.

  Too many unseasoned boaters have a tendency to think they can "outrun" the weather.  This sometimes works but, more oft than not, the weather wins.  Thankfully, a small rainstorm does not wreak much havoc but lightning, hail, high winds and waterspouts can be quite devastating.  Pop always used to say "Keep an eye on the horizon and respect the weather.  It is much stronger and much faster than you are." Makes sense.  

  It was just a few weeks ago that a rogue storm whipped the Bay into a frenzy and several kayaks were overturned.  Luckily, my cousin, Michelle anticipated what was going to take place and called for help. The unfortunate folks took refuge on local piers and stayed there to be rescued.  Thank goodness that help arrived and all was well.  It could have been far worse.  

  So folks, listen to Pop..."Watch that weather!  Don't take chances.  Your life is worth much more."