"Ben's Dream"

Whenever it rains a lot here in Western Washington the news stations get excited. They name the adverse weather conditions, "Flood Watch 2004!" "Winter Storm Watch 2006!" Tonight at 5 pm watch the incredible rescue of three zebras from 12 inches of 50 degree water! (True story by the way.)

Rain in the past week hasn't really bothered me. It's been consistent, drenching and has made me nervous about the basement, but everything in the backyard is typically muddy, fall leaves are everywhere and there is nothing to report. Of course miss Muppet wouldn't deign to get her precious feet wet so she's resorted to sitting by the door when I let her out, then peeing inside on the floor. Ugh! Damn dog.

What's my point? Oh yeah, I didn't think there was anything different about this storm, but seeing as how the national guard has been called in and the governor is out and about making speeches in flooded towns, things might be a tad worse than I thought. The weather is destroying roads, sweeping homes away, and killing humans.

My dad and his wife had to rescue stuff from their antique shop up in Stanwood. It's located in a valley near Puget Sound and every time I drive through I think "this is the very definition of a flood plain!"

Tonight I was looking at the flood photos on Seattle Times and came across a beautiful photo by Tom Reese. It's in color, but looks like sepia. The people in the boat add a surreal quality to the photo. My mind told me that I had seen this photo as an illustration before, but somehow, the house was safe. It was still in water, but it was on an adventure of its own.

One of my favorite illustrators as a kid, Chris Van Allsburg, had created this image in his book, Ben's Dream .

I know the flood photo is sad because someone lost their house, but in a way, it's beautiful and serene.

I contacted the Times to buy the photo. $30 for an 8x10.

I guess life imitates art, imitating life.