What has greater odds against: the chance of winning the estimated $700 million Powerball jackpot this weekend or finding a Southern Californian who does not stand with mouth agape staring out the window as water gushes from the sky?
Incidentally, the odds of winning the lottery jackpot Wednesday were 1 in 292 million. They are expected to balloon even more by this weekend. Nevertheless I’d say you’d still have a better chance at winning that dream-granting windfall than finding a San Diegan who does not exclaim “It’s raining!” the second raindrops splash against the dirt and cement outside their office or home.
The odds against finding a Southern Californian who, in those first few hours of precipitation, retains their common sense while driving are even greater.
It’s a ritual that used to perplex me. Rain falls, we crowd a window and, mesmerized, try to grasp what is happening.
It’s not as though we have never experienced the meteorological events. Most people over the age of 1 and who have lived in the county have experienced rainfall. It’s just that the infrequency of rain combined with the sunny lifestyle we lead softens the part of our brain that retains memories of cloudy days and wet weather.
And so, whether it was two months or 48 hours ago, we mark the rain’s return the way an enthusiastic cocker spaniel marks the return of its owner from a short trip to the sidewalk, with lots of panting, barking and excited spinning.
It’s early in the rainy season but so far Chula Vista’s infrastructure merits some form of tail-wagging celebration.
A quick drive through the city over a couple of rainy days didn’t reveal any significant episodes of backed up storm drains and inundated public right of ways. But it’s early and prognosticators are promising more and heavier downpours in the weeks and months ahead in this El Niño winter.
In an attempt to get ahead of the anticipated deluges, the city of Chula Vista is hosting an El Niño forum beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at City Hall. Speakers from the National Weather Service, police and fire departments are scheduled to appear and discuss ways to safeguard one’s home during the winter.
Come to think of it, no word yet if there will be any discussion of shelters for the men and women who live on the streets and under open skies within city limits. What are the odds the city will have a shelter in place to cover them during the dark rainy days ahead?
Better buy your Powerball tickets. The chances of winning that as opposed to that last proposition are probably more in your favor.
