Situations I have found myself in vol. 1

Outside of the dream thread, I don't think I have any series that recur.  In the spirit of having something nonsensical to discuss, I give you 'Situations I have found myself in.'  

June 2007.

I had recently taken a job in Bartlesville, Oklahoma after having graduated from college and invited a slew of my former classmates down to visit the new digs.  This particular weekend coincided with the wedding of another former classmate.  

The gala event was to take place in the evening at the Brown Mansion in Coffeyville, Kansas.  The bride herself had only been to Coffeyville once before during one of my forced architectural tours and had apparently found herself smitten with the building.  

The wedding went off mostly as planned, with the exception being the ceremony itself was held indoors due to rain.  

Here is the point I mention that it had rained a lot recently.  A whole lot.  Buy gopher wood, and pair up your animals lot.  Maybe get yourself some of those arm floaties kids use in the pool.  I digress...

Shortly after the ceremony itself, the rain ceased and we headed out on the lawn, various forms of liquor in hand to celebrate.  There was music, dancing, pictures, and conversation of both the mediocre and extraordinary (for the state of sobriety anyway).

And then, the levies broke.

The party went from swinging to chaos in about 20 seconds.  Police arrived at the mansion to tell everyone to evacuate immediately.  We had no idea the severity, and concluded this must be an over-reaction.  I slowly gathered those that were to return to Oklahoma with me for the evening and headed to the car.  When we hit the western-most edge of Coffeyville we were met by the Kansas Highway patrol telling us that the roads would soon be closed.  I asked in which direction and was told, "all of them."  Better time has never been made to Oklahoma.  When we reached the state line we were met by more highway patrol.  Highway 75 was being shut down due to flooding.  I begged.  We were of the last row of vehicles let into Oklahoma that night.  The next morning we awoke to Coffeyville on CNN.  The town was underwater, worst flood in history, and the refinery had exuded crude into the water.  All on the east side of town was lost.

I had not spent much time in Coffeyville since my formative early college years, and now, half of it was gone.   

The one night I return, the place is inundated by an act of God.

I have found that where travels lead, trouble courts.