Go With the Flow

     The lesson this month is the power of water. I knew the coffee was tasting nasty, dosing Gracie with Pepto was becoming a daily ritual, the ice machine was giving half bags of really wet cubes, and the impatiens on the front porch of the café were looking sad, but I so take clean drinking water for granted, I didn’t add up the clues.
     The well that supplies water to Cedar Key was so low from prolonged drought that salt water found its way in and turned the tap water to brine. The water is still safe to shower, do dishes, cook, and even gargle, but it’s not drinkable. The fire department is providing potable and bottled water (via tanker trucks and pallets of plastic bottles) to residents and life is continuing as usual until they figure out some sort of desalination.
     Tropical Storm Debby dumped nine inches of rain in one day on Cedar Key. The sea rose to about halfway on the water front sites. (Campers had been moved to interior sites, of course). The park suffered only mild damage; about two days of sloshing in ankle-deep water picking up palm branches, tree debris, and the garbage left behind at the trash line of the high water and the park is back in shape.     
     The docks in downtown Cedar Key were all damaged, most beyond repair. The park owner, Bruce, lost his airboat dock. He retrieved a sink and cooler and some of the wood. His snack machine and freezer (loaded with bagged ice) floated away. The business owners along Dock Street didn’t try to keep the water out. They moved everything possible to a high level, opened the doors and allowed the inevitable to happen. Mike Seidel of the weather channel was sloshing along Dock Street and television cameras documented the waves splashing through the SeaBreeze Restaurant. Within a week, life had returned to normal. The tour boat owners fished the remains of their docks out of the sea and are operating out of the repaired city dock. The stores and restaurants are all clean and open.
     The park was more than half full for the holiday. The fireworks display was designed and executed by Bruce and a couple other business owners, from an old barge a hundred yards out in the inlet. It rivaled any professional display I’ve ever seen. The explosion of colors reflected in the water was breath taking. Gracie did not share my enthusiasm for the fireworks.
     My recent accomplishments include cleaning bathrooms, clearing the café porch of dead leaves, gardening, painting two old rockers, washing the kitchen towels, and chopping weeds along the water line. This morning I drove the boss’ car downtown to the hardware store to pick up four bags of ice and to the fire department for 16 gallons of water for the café, cleared leaves from around the motel and laundry, repotted three plants, and stashed the order of French fries and buns in the freezer. I’m still enjoying trading a little labor for my spot and utilities. When the time is right to move on, I think I'll know. I'm fine for now.
     I got my first social security check. It's a little strange not having to struggle to make a living. It is nice to see a plus in my checking account after nearly a year of all withdrawals.    
    The lessons I’ve learned in the last few weeks are about taking an essential for granted, battling the inevitable, and recovery. Sometimes the best way to survive is to go with the flow.