Planet of the Blind: How Ironic

Floods and Rainbows in Iowa...

I found this stunning photograph online the other day. The caption underneath it explained that this rainbow was spotted in Solon, IA just this past weekend, when the rain finally stopped. At the time this photo was taken, the entire city of Cedar Rapids was completely under water. The citizens of Iowa City were frantically sandbagging all over town in attempt to somehow control Mother Nature's fury. And the next severe thunder storm, compete with tornado warning, was on it's way. Even as I write this, scores of people along the Mississippi are preparing for the worst as all this excess water continues to flow "downstream".

As Steve mentioned yesterday we are fine, thank you. Why even the internet connection we lost for a while has been restored. "Life" five miles outside Iowa City is practically normal I'm almost embarrassed to say. Because we're relatively new in town, we don't personally know anyone who has been displaced by this historic flood. At least we haven't yet heard. Oh, I take that back. I haven't had a conversation with them yet, but our neighbors across the street own a Dairy Queen in Coralville. There's a pretty good chance that is under water.

To our neighbors, and to the thousands of people who have lost their homes and/or their businesses, please know we are thinking of you. Once the water has receded and it comes time to clean up after this mess, we too will don our rubber boots and gloves and offer whatever assistance we can.

Is there a better way to get to know one's neighbors? Probably not.

~ Connie

LINKS:

Iowa Flood: How You Can Help;
Iowa City Rock Flood Relief Benefit: We're GO for June 19th

Photo description: The photographer was clearly standing in the middle of a street and facing uphill. At the top of the hill appears to be a residential area. Clearly it had just rained as the pavement is still wet. "Hanging" over the houses we see a most beautiful rainbow, from one end to the other. From this view, the rainbow "frames" the homes underneath it.