As I sit here and write this, it’s now 2:18 AM. The storms have subsided for the most part and I’m exhausted. For you see, I’ve spent my night as many of you probably have, fighting the power outage and, for the first time, water! 

Let me express by no means am I comparing myself to any real flooding victim but tonight I got a glimpse of what it’s like to fight for something so dear to you only to realize it’s a futile effort.

Many of you know that when I bought my new home a few years ago my dream was to have a sports bar within it. The ultimate man cave if you will. A Harley Davidson pool table, a professional foosball table, electronic Harley Dart Board, a thumpin’ sound system with a dance floor, lights, a bar wrapped in leather and diamond plate. Neon beer signs adorned the walls and the paint scheme of black, orange and white striped horizontally from floor to ceiling. Naturally a perfect television sat above the bar, a Harley fridge in the corner and yes….even a "dancers" pole on the dance floor. To watch a game, eat, drink, get away, the occassional party for friends…this was the ultimate. It had everything but a cash register.

It WAS the ultimate because, as I sit here drying off, the bar is is filling with water. At first it was a trickle and then a little more and a little more until there was so much I just couldn’t keep up. Being a competitive person, I firmly believed that I could bail as much as Mother Nature could throw at me. I’m not a quitter. I’m not someone who gives up without a fight. So I bailed gallon after gallon after gallon. I ran out in the storm and dug a trench away from my house through my new sod. I actually saved 2 frogs form perishing as they too couldn’t get out of the rushing current coming from my backyard, down the hill side and into my house. I believe in going until you have nothing left to give. That moment came about 20 minutes ago. With the power out and the sump pump nothing more than a paper weight (no, I’m one of he stupid people who didn’t buy a battery powered pump…not that it would have mattered that much in this instance) I watch the water pour in from my window wells, down the walls, listening to the water loudly stream behind the drywall, the sump pump crock flowing over it’s brim and the realization that "it’s over" hitting me.

The vision of the room was not drawn on paper or measured out in a design; it was crafted minute by minute from my head to my hands to reality. When I tried to explain to people what it was going to look like, they didn’t see anything more than an empty room. When the unveiling took place, no one could believe it. Everyone that entered raved and my chest grew 10 fold for I created a vision. It’s one of those accomplishments that, when you look back on it, you ask yourself, “How did I ever do it?” 

My laptop battery’s at half power now and the power’s still out, it has been for a little over 4 hours, so I guess I’ll post my night for you to read at your leisure.

Make no mistake about it, I’m upset with the loss of my room but I’m eerily calm. Not because I have insurance but because  99% of my cherished belongings are in tact and unharmed. Walls and 2x4's can be replaced, things that mean the most to you.....well, you get the drift.
This has certainly given me perspective though.  I can’t imagine going through an actual flood. To see people on their roofs waiting for help, to watch a river rise knowing your home depends on the skies drying up, to watch animals try to swim to safety only to become exhausted and perish, my God, just watching those in West Allis last night escape to the second floor of their homes in a moment's notice as the waters blew through sewers, rushed down gulleys, filled streets and yards all within a seeming lightning flash. For I’m very lucky….in the grand scheme of things, I’m very lucky. 

Good night.