Floods really change the landscape, usually only
temporarily, but sometimes permanently. This past week I’ve watched the “off
the beaten path” intersection near our home gradually become a small stretch of
rapids in the Grand River, and a popular viewing spot for the neighborhood
locals. It seems that intersection is within the 100-year flood plain of the
river, and we’re experiencing a 100 year flood, worst since 1904. Fortunately
our home is located above the 500 year flood plain and in no danger.
Each day has demanded the obligatory pilgrimage to observe
just how much higher the water has risen, until Monday morning when the river
crested and began to recede. I even drove through that intersection several
times while I could still see the centerline through the gradually deepening
water which wasn’t reaching the differentials and axles on my SUV, and still
avoid the stretch of forcefully flowing water that could have shoved me off the
road. Later, it was fun to stand at the edge of the flood waters and see a
river where the golf course was, that stretch of rapids where the road used to
be, a huge lake where a fifty acre or so pond once stood separated from the
marsh and sand mining excavations by a two-track and loads of scrub trees and
bushes. I wondered if the road would still be there, or washed away with the
receding water. I assumed the golf course would survive; it always has with
minimal damage.
Eventually the paved road was less than a foot beneath the
surface, but invisible beneath the brown floodwaters. The heavy current was
enough to push smaller vehicles off the pavement, but large tow trucks and
pickups with at least a foot of ground clearance, their drivers practicing a
huge amount of caution and care, were able to get through to the airport. Stupid?
Maybe, maybe not. Most drivers didn’t take the chance that the road may have
washed out under the river, and just stayed on solid ground. Smart people? Most
likely.
Two kayakers and a canoeing couple had to be rescued from
the river this week, having ventured out onto the water despite warnings from
local authorities to keep away due to the extreme flow rates of over 33,000 cubic
feet per second. Were they risk-taking adventurers, or just plain stupid? The
kayaker who helped rescue the canoeists had been told he was stupid by law
enforcement the day before, and yet there he was, the very next day out on the
river again, and quite likely saved two lives on the journey. Was he a
thoroughly prepared and expert kayaker, or a stupid one who through dumb luck
happened to be in the right place at the right time to save two other possibly
stupid people.
Some people do what would appear to be dumb things, but they’ve
thought about it, learned about it, prepared for it, learned the necessary
limits, and taken appropriate precautions before taking on the risk. Some people just choose to do really dumb
things, to take big risks. Stupidity enters the picture when people leave out
the learning, preparation and precaution steps.
I’m a normally risk averse person. Did I drive through a
flooded intersection? Yes. Did I know what was going on and what could happen?
Yes. Was I prepared? Yes. Did I know what the limits were? Yes. Did I take
precautions? Yes.
I think there’s a metaphor for life in the flood and the
behaviors I observed this week. Yes, life is a do it yourself adventure. But
you don’t have to be stupid about it. Consider the choices, learn, prepare, know
the limits, take the precautions, and go live it.
If life is my first, last and greatest crusade, here’s hoping
I’m choosing wisely, not poorly …
-Pops
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