My Week That Was - August 25

Happy to have a roof overhead. 8/20/18
dwm photo

The forecast on Monday was for rain; the experts got that right, but didn't expect the historic and nearly Biblical proportions that would fall.

In the days of Milwaukee County Stadium, the field would have been soaking wet by 3 in the afternoon and fans told to stay home before they even got in the car.

The retractable roof removes concern for rain.  We stayed in the car until shortly before the gates opened and got under cover before it started again.

As we walked to our seats, I noticed a downpour out the floor to ceiling windows.  Umbrella in hand, I thought we were set no matter what happened.

Around the time Milwaukee took a lead in the game, our phones started to buzz with text messages from friends and neighbors back in Madison.

The rain steadily dripped into our
section during heavy rainfall.
8/20/2018 (dwm)

They warned us about the more than 4 inches of rain that was flash-flooding many usually dry places.  An inning later, as we realized those same rains would be covering most of the drive home and closed roads might keep us out; we opted for a nearby hotel.

I think it was the first time I've stayed overnight when I didn't expect to do so.  Thankfully, I had contact lens containers and lens solution with me.  Usually after a game, I pop out my contacts and put on my glasses before the return trip.

The game was a quick one, two and a half-hours, which is lightning fast for a major league game.  The umbrella kept us mostly dry, except for our feet which were soaked.  The 10 or 15 mile drive to the hotel had some anxious moments, but we arrived safely and we were able to purchase toothpaste and brushes for our impromptu stay.

Our inconvenience was very minor.  Others in our community were dealing with basements under water; cars totaled by flash floods; and one family was mourning a loss of a man who tried to get out of his car in rushing flood waters and was washed away despite heroic efforts to save him.

It was clear when we got home the next morning that staying in Milwaukee was the right decision as some roads were still blocked 12 hours later.  A few areas are still closed today, six days later.

Back at work, I heard stories of residents affected by the high waters as it traveled downhill.  In this case, downhill was the parking garage in one of independent living apartments.  The water trashed more than a dozen cars and erased lifetime memories held in storage units.

I also saw how colleagues reacted to the unusual weather event - by welcoming community members in need who showed up at our doors during the storm and got help and how staff members quickly and selflessly reacted to put resident needs first.

Two days off at the start of the work week was unusual.  I got in Wednesday, then attended a fundraising conference Thursday.  Fundraising Day Wisconsin is an annual convocation pulled together by the Association of Fundraising Professional Chapters in Milwaukee and Madison.

I was rewarded with a few really solid ideas to put in practice and with time networking with others in the same line of work.  It was a very nice day.

Yesterday, we went to another Brewer game Friday night.

I'll share that story with you on Monday; have an excellent week!