marveling & mothering: It's Raining, It's Pouring

Actually, it’s not. The heavy rain only comes in bouts, and is generally just a sprinkle more than anything. The wind, on the other hand, is a bit more unpleasant. But the Line is prepared.

When I saw that the rain was forecasted to start at 6am, I promptly set the alarm on my phone to go off at 5am (just in case I actually got to sleep). I packed an extra tarp, an Easy-Up, plenty of plastic containers to hold my gear, and the wagon to load it all in.

There had been some discussion Tuesday as to whether or not we’d be able to line the sidewalk with awnings so that we would all be covered from the rain. Nothing was ever really organized, but I wasn’t going to leave mine at home!

Other people in Line laughed at me when I told them my alarm was set for 5. But there was no way I was going to be packing up a tent in the rain. No thank you. Kate is not a happy camper in wet clothing.

Prayers were answered and I got a few solid hours of warm, cozy sleep overnight. When my alarm went off at 5, I did consider staying in my cocoon of blankets for a bit longer. I didn’t hear anyone else stirring. But then I thought for sure I heard rain sprinkling on the tent. Who cares if I’m the first crazy person up at that hour, I’ve got to beat that rain! I got dressed and packed in no time. Then I realized it wasn’t rain that I had heard, but just the wind. I was glad to be up though. I packed the tent in the dark, and in record time. I loaded all my overnight things into the wagon and covered it with the rain fly from the tent and rolled on over to my spot on the sidewalk. By that time a few other people had gotten up and were also tearing down camp. I had some help setting up the awning. By 5:45, I was done, and the first sprinkles of rain were starting to fall.

After getting my things secured, I took a potty break and drove down to UDF to use their (less than desirable) facilities. I came back, parked my car and got ready to cross the street back to school grounds when a Rumke truck came roaring in with a load of Port-A-Potties. Never was a Port-A-Potty so celebrated.

Throughout the morning, I helped set up 4 (out of a final count of 7 awnings, plus one tarp “lean-to”) along the side walk. Tarp walls were rigged into place and secured. The Line is now a shanty town. Everyone is covered; everyone is mostly dry (except for those people who were taking down their tents in the steady morning rain). I am settled in for the day.