This is where it gets tricky. Monsoon season 1999 is when I lost my confidence in myself. I made a stupid decision to cross some flood waters (gotta get home to get the kids from school). My car filled with water. I got onto the window sill and allowed myself to be washed away, down the street, until I hit a light pole. I lost my glasses, as well as my trust in myself to make the right decisions in important circumstances. Totalled a 3 week old car (1200 miles on it), too. There will be some point in the next few weeks I will have to drive through the area where I had the accident; my eldest is participating in a music festival at the uni. I do not want her trying to figure out how to drive in the rain when there is flooding. I know she has to learn sometime, but if she’s going to practice with water on the road, I would prefer it be with either me or my husband in the car, and close to home. 7 years ago

Yesterday was supposed to be cloudy, slight chance of rain. However, it started where I live (extreme west side) at about 4a.m., when I first woke up. Then it continued throughout the day, intermittent showers. I went out early in the day, water on the windshield but basically dry streets. In the evening, my husband and I went to pick up our kid from the rec center. Heavy rain, but I was okay until we reached the section of street where the water collects. Although we were in the van, I began to panic. (For me, panic starts out with, “I really don’t like this,” and gripping the sides of the seat.) Fortunately it didn’t get any worse. I will have reached this goal of not being afraid of storms when I can drive/ride comfortably in a reasonable downpour. I will probably always dislike driving in storms – seems like self-preservation now. When I was younger, I liked being out in the weather. That’s in part how I had my accident. 7 years ago

Today it begins – thunderstorm season. Fortunately I do not have to go out. I will make myself go for a short jaunt – to the market, something. Flash floods are not predicted and the rain on the windshield should be tolerable. 7 years ago

Storms terrify me, but only if I have to drive in them. As long as I can stay out of a car, I am fine. This is not feasible in Las Vegas. We have thunderstorms and wind storms and, believe it or not, monsoons and flash floods. About five years ago, I was almost swept away in my car in a flash flood. Now when heavy water gets on the windshield, I freak out – even at the car wash. This past year has been particularly stormy and I have been getting better. However, today I am supposed to drive my daughter across town to a friend’s house. The wind is picking up and there are dark clouds on the horizon. And I can feel the anxiety climbing. I really hate this. Until the accident, I used to love being in the rain, driving, sitting, the whole experience. Desert rats know rain is life, but I lost that realization and I’d like to get it back. 7 years ago