This is a view of “A Royal Pain in the Ass: Part II” in the Southern Tier of New York.  The entire area is flooded again.  This version sucks just as much, if not worse, than the original.  It’s a nightmare.

This picture was taken this afternoon in the village of Windsor, NY. This is across the street from our house.  It is typically an open field with the Susquehanna River about a nice 225-yard, 3-wood away.  As I was taking this picture, a couple kids rode by. I heard one say to the other, “It looks like a river of chocolate milk.” He’s right, it does.

This area was flooded in 2006 on a beautiful late June morning after days of constant rain.  The level of flooding was almost indescribable, yet it was contrasted by a gorgeous sunny day.  It was surreal.  People just walked around in a daze, almost unable to comprehend what was happening.  There was destruction where there shouldn’t be.  There was water in places that no one ever expected to have water.  There were houses and garages and barns that were just uprooted and washed away.  Once people got through the initial shock of the damage, they laced up their boots, put on some gloves and got to work.  It took some time, but things got back to normal.  And “they” assured us that the Flood of 2006 was a once-in-a-lifetime event.  A 500-year flood, “they” called it.  Guess “they” were wrong.

This flood is much darker, evil almost.  There is no sunshine.  The forecast is calling for sporadic rain over the next couple days.  I walked around town this afternoon when I took this picture.  The people aren’t in a daze like they were five years ago.  Instead, it seems like there’s a certain air of resignation.  They’ve played this game before and they don’t like it.  People know what to do to clean up, but I’m fearful of the aftermath this time.  I don’t sense we’ll have the same lovey-dovey, let’s-all-work-together feeling that we did the last time.  I’m afraid there’s going to be some anger involved.  I hope I’m wrong.  Sequels are almost always worse than the original.  Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into a trilogy.