So Near, Yet So Far

When tv images showed the formation of a tropical storm in the Gulf, we all hoped it would bring us some rain.  But we can only watch with a longing eye as the system slowly drifts toward Louisiana, with only a sliver of east Texas to have any chance of getting even a little water from the sky.  

The Weather Channel today showed images of New Orleans bracing for flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.  This storm has very little in the way of winds, but will dump lots of rain in its path.  Rain that Texas needs so badly.
While Texans right next door are drooling for rain, New Orleans has declared a state of emergency, due to flooding.  Oh, the irony of nature. 

This drought is the worst in recorded history.  More than 90% of Texas is in exceptional, extreme drought.  The whole state is brown and parched and dead, lakes have long since dried up, wildlife is coming into civilization in search of precious water, and ranchers are struggling with hogs who no longer have mud holes to keep cool in and cattle who are surviving on prickly pears.  Higher crime has been reported in some areas.  Weeks and weeks on end of temperatures reaching over 100 degrees are wearing on everyone's nerves.  When will we get some relief?

Yeah, I know it's Labor Day weekend but we would have gladly given up our last long weekend of the summer to see some water pounding our thirsty earth.