Monster Monsoons
Throughout Tucson and other Arizona areas there are dry river beds, called "washes," that remain dry most months of the year until the monsoon season arrives. I laughed when I first visited Tucson. 'Yeah, right. These dry "river" beds fill with water? I'll believe it when I see it."
It was my first summer here and I was warned the monsoons were on the way and that I should use caution. One afternoon I was pulling out of a parking lot when out of the clear blue sky this "little black cloud" came floating by. It dropped a few little rain drops on my little red car and I kept on driving.
"Ha," I thought. "That is a monsoon? Please." With a roll of the eyes I kept driving. Then suddenly, as if someone turned the light switch off, the sky turned black. "Hmmm."
A few more sprinkles landed on my windshield but then they began to fall faster and harder and soon they were slamming against the car.
I couldn't see anything. I pulled onto the shoulder, stopped the car and pushed the hazard button just as the rain turned to hail.  The ice hit my hood so hard it sounded like Tommy Lee was performing a solo. I glanced at the clock. It hadn't even been a minute. Just then a bright flash of lightening struck directly in front, I let out a shriek and ducked under my steering wheel.
Suddenly...silence. I came out from my hiding place and peered out the window only to see a clear blue sky. Did I just imagine that nightmare? The ground told a different story as it was flooded and the wash behind me was gushing like it had been there all along. The golf ball sized hail just sat on my hood among the little egg crates they had just made.
I continued my drive home passing an accident with an emergency crew already on the scene. Palm trees were knocked over and parking lots were flooded. I had never seen anything like it.
Today when I'm in the car and see the clouds rolling in I pull over, park the car, push the hazard button, turn on some Motley Crue, duck under the steering wheel, and know it will be over in just a minute.
