Torrential rains hit the Midwest last week, turning some of the roads here in Dubuque into small rivers. Someone posted a picture of a man kayaking down East 22nd Street. A truck waited at an intersection in the background, suddenly domesticated, turned into a bystander, strangley hesitant and uncertain in this world become strange.
We stand, mouths agape, at such scenes, of places so familiar that they seem inviolate, incapable of changing. And yet, in a moment, they do transform, they become strangers to us; they act like chaos, devouring great chunks of normalcy, of routine, swallowing them like a swollen river swallows the banks that would otherwise seem to define its boundaries.
The weather channel warns that most flash flood fatalities occur in cars that are swept away by as little as one foot of water. A report comes over the media that a teenage boy has been swept down a storm sewer, in a city not far from here.
"How," I wonder, "did that happen?"
Of course, we can guess: fascination with the awful, the awesome ferocity of waters suddenly released. . . .
I was not immune. Stranded in the house for one too many hours, the rain having died down, I asked if anyone wanted to venture out, and got one hardy volunteer, my three-year-old son, Gabriel.
So we hopped into the compact car, even though I thought perhaps the minivan would be a better choice. I don't have a kayak so, of course, that's not an option.
Drove down to the Dubuque River Walk, alongside the Mississippi, to get a first hand glimpse of the river itself, how high it was. It was still within its banks, and that was a comfort. But it was high, lapping up against the highest step of the gazebo built to overlook the river.
It seems like the rising of waters, like the howling of winds, the way natural disasters transform or savage our worlds, is something that will always captivate us. It signals that we are still sojourners in this world, that our human citizenship does not render us immune to our earthly habitation, its groans and eruptions.
But I wonder if the idea of kayaking down the street testifies to our belief that we can turn every chaos into a conveyance, that somehow we believe, through ingenuity and adaptation, we can overcome the river that would overcome us. Maybe.
Alas, such thoughts are too deep for me . . . for me and Gabriel, that is. Standing in the rain, Gabriel complains, "I'm cold!"
"Me too," I say. "Let's get back in the car, where it's warm. . . ."
And so we run, protected for the moment by a river held in check by civil engineering, domesticated for human consumption. Gabriel holds my finger as we run back to the car -- a slender tether between us, nothing compared to the forces around us, and yet, at the same time, far more powerful than all of these.
I think of Michael Angelo's Creation of Adam, the iconic image of the hand of God and the hand of Adam reaching, almost touching, across a watery expanse.
As we cross the parking lot, a woman drives up in a truck, pulls up as close as she can, to see the river, to watch it, from the supposed safety of her vehicle.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.