Letter to the Big Man

Okay, so usually I don't ask things from you like this.  In fact, I am highly against the general letter writing that frequents facebook.

But this isn't facebook.

So I'll proceed.

I am seriously concerned about the situation of things around here.  And no, I don't mean my job, although I am spending WAY TOO MUCH time at it, I am secretly loving pretty much every second of it.  But please don't tell anyone that little tidbit of information.

What I am concerned about is this drought.  I mean, I hear more than usual about it because I do work in the country and for a long while now I've been hearing from co-workers about their crops dying (or never even getting planted because conditions were never favorable).  

And, you know, I was okay with that.  That kinda comes with the farming territory.  As long as it doesn't happen TOO often.

Then a few weeks ago someone at work told me how they no longer had water for their cows and how they would have to get rid of them.  And they also mentioned how the livestock death rate has increased recently because of their lack of vitamins from lack of fresh grass.

That kinda upset me.  I mean, don't punish the animals.  They don't sin and had such good homes with loving caretakers.  One lady I work with was late to her own party because she had to deliver a calf.  And then you're going to take away it's water and subsequently make her get rid of it?  

Okay, I mean, you have a purpose for everything.  I guess something, hopefully positive, will come of this. I trust you still.

But now you have this whole fire thing.  You thought about sending us a tropical storm, but instead you sent the nasty winds from the storm with no rain.  I mean, how could you?  You know we are struggling here.

I understand fire has to happen sometimes and with it comes ecological succession (because I'm a nerdy science teacher).  But really?

Did you have to make it so close that I can see it out my window and smell it in the air?

Did you have to burn down ALL THOSE homes?

Haven't you seen how beautiful the part of Bastrop is that burned down?  Couldn't that have been spared?

I spent the day listening to gut wrenching stories of students and faculty and their friends & family they know that had their houses burn down.  Did it have to go that far?

Also today my school called several bus numbers over the announcements and had those students come to the office and tell them if they planned on riding the bus today.  They made a long list of names that I later found out was because those buses were going into heavy smoke and rather closer to the fires.  And we wanted to be sure that we knew who all was on those buses, just in case.

God, I hope, just in case, you got a glimpse of that list.  I would hate for that list to sit on someones desk serving no purpose (although I do really want it to serve no purpose because nothing ever happens).  I hope that you look at that list and you are taking extra special care of those on that list.  Cause it's kinda getting personal now with that list.

And I hope you are watching over the others that have been affected by the fires.

And one more thing, a little (or really a lot) of rain would be nice.  

That is all I ask for now.

Thanks,

A Concerned Fan