The Downpour and the Cheesecake

I learned a valuable life lesson today. I suppose there are subtle things that you learn about life when you become a sans-car commuter. This morning I woke up to the sound of a plane crashing into my apartment, but it turned out it was just an intense clap of thunder. It poured and thundered without stopping for hours. Last Sunday was Colleen and my housewarming party which left our home very warm and our fridge very full! Among other things we had 1.5 cheesecakes remaining and I vowed last night to take a cheesecake to work today to share with my team.

The warning signs were there as I planned out how to tuck the umbrella into the crook of my neck to be able to lock the door with one hand while holding the cheesecake in the other. They got stronger as I struggled through the turnstyle at the "El" train stop with the cheesecake, umbrella, and shoulder bag that wouldn't turn itself sideways to slide nicely through. By the time I sat down on the train and began arranging my bag, my purse, myself, the umbrella, and the cheesecake balanced on top of it all, I had decided that today was probably not the day to tote a cheesecake.

At my exit stop, I panicked momentarily as I noticed that the revolving gate that I normally pass through to exit likely would be too small to go through with the umbrella open. Immediately after, I noticed that a foot beyond the revolving gate was a solid wall of water falling from the gutter. I looked at the cheesecake, then at the umbrella and turned around to try my luck at the reverse turnstyle.

Once outside, I began walking my .4 miles to work and in about 2 steps, remembered that flip flops are also not a good idea in the rain. As I slipped and slided inside my shoes I silently prayed to the raingods that they please not let me fall, and PLEASE not let me drop the cheesecake. Not that I really cared about the cheesecake at that point, in fact I was beginning to get bitter about how my colleagues better appreciate the stupid thing, but to drop a cheesecake in the middle of the sidewalk in downtown Chicago would be so humiliating! You either have to be the tool that makes a big fuss about cleaning it up, or the tool who quickly looks around and keeps on walking like nothing happened--cheeks burning with the shame of not only dropping a cheesecake, but LEAVING IT THERE for someone else to step in.

I did not drop the cheesecake. I did learn that streets and alleys in Chicago can become treacherous flash flood danger zones with the slightest sprinkle of rain, not to mention the downpour that occurred this morning. There were literally WAVES lapping the center line of the road, and with the water well over the curb, it was a good 7.5 foot leap to clear the ankle-deep "puddle." I was about to attempt the world's longest standing long jump, but decided that it was too risky with the umbrella, the bag, the purse, and the cheesecake attached to me. I waded in, dismissing bitterly the galoshes I had been toying with purchasing and opting instead for the fly-fishing-river-wading-come-up-to-your-belly-button pants.

I arrived at work wet and annoyed but with a fully intact cheesecake.
Never again.
Next rain I'm going to be the one with nothing but an umbrella who sits on the train smirking at the people carrying cheesecakes around.

PS- I accept housewarming gifts in the form of vegetable peelers, liquid measuring cups, and fly-fishing-river-wading-come-up-to-your-belly-button pants.