Praying for rain

It’s been 70 days since the last drop of precipitation fell from the sky here – 70 dry, windy, sand-in-your-teeth, bad hair days. But over the next few days, there is hope for a little rain.

When I moved to the 7MSN in October 2005, there was no rain or snow for four months - not a single drop or flake. Then on the first of March 2006, there was a small deluge - .2 of an inch! (It’s not that my memory is so good; I keep a spreadsheet of this stuff - it’s a rancher thing.) It was a dark and stormy night, and when the rain stopped, I walked outside to enjoy the smell and jump in a few puddles. And then I totally freaked. It sounded like every creature within a hundred mile radius was screaming and howling and screeching. The horses were stampeding in their corral. Herds of something were pounding down the road. Every coyote in central New Mexico was yapping, and my dogs were barking right back. I couldn’t figure out what in the heck was going on, but I  was scared to death, so I ran back in the house. Then I rationalized that all the commotion must have just been one big happy dance – I wasn’t the only one rejoicing that it had finally rained.

So there’s likely to be a party in the pasture if this latest forecast comes true, and y’all are invited. Just make sure you’ve got 4-wheel drive and chains for your front tires.