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Rain, Rain, Go Away
It's the weekend, so it's raining in the North Country. That's been pretty much the theme of Saturday night and Sundays this summer. To an old retired guy like me it doesn't really matter that much. It can rain on Tuesday, or it can rain on Thursday, or it can rain on Sunday. The days don't really matter. You take the 5 good days, and begrudgingly accept the 2 rainy days.
But it wasn't so long ago I was a working man, looking forward to those two special days, Saturday and Sunday. Those were the two days to run errands, work around the yard and talk in front of the house with the neighbors. It's always much better to do those activities in a tee-shirt instead of a raincoat. And holding a can of liquid refreshment instead of an umbrella.
Even though it doesn't matter a hoot to me if it rains on Saturday and Sunday, it matters a lot to those involved in special summer activities. Mike Perrotte and company over at Airborne Speedway will remember the Summer of '06 as the mini-season. Try as they might, they have been forced to cancel five or six of their Saturday night race cards, including last night. That not only hurts the track owners in the wallet, but also the drivers who lose out on an opportunity to win some cash back for their big expenses all week prepping their cars.
And, on a smaller scale, I feel bad for my friend Dennis Burnell, doing all he can do to operate Red Line Race Park on Route 9 North, behind the old North Country Shopping Center. Dennis and his staff provide kart racing for drivers young and old from the Plattsburgh area, as well as from Malone, Vermont, and even from Cornwall Island, Ontario. He's been forced to cancel his races five or six times this summer, forcing the drivers, mostly youngsters, to a day inside watching NASCAR or playing video games.
Not to mention all the family picnics and class reunions rained on this summer on Saturday and Sunday. Nothing worse than water in the potato salad and soggy hot dog buns. I know some determined bar-b-quers forge on, pretending it isn't even raining, just to savor the taste of a steak off the grill. But not me. I'll just cook mine on Monday, when the sun is shining brightly, and pretend it's Sunday.
Who's in charge of this weather anyway? Who can we blame for so many rainy weekends this summer? Tom Messner? Gib Brown? I wonder if the Old Timer has seen so many rainy Saturdays and Sundays? I think we should all stand united on this one! And just refuse to accept anything other than sunny weather on the weekends for the rest of August and throughout September.
Next Saturday if it rains, let's all meet in front of the Crete Center at noon and drive south till we hit the first town with sunshine and let's throw ourselves one whale of a sunny party right there on Main Street. That's what I'm gonna do and I hope you'll join me!
Comments
You are so right Foxy. If you'll notice, many people are adding on "sun" rooms which are really "just in case it rains we can take cover" rooms. We forge ahead with our plans and endure the best we can, but it gets frustrating - we'll meet you in the parking lot on Saturday!
Posted by: diane | August 20, 2006 7:32 PM