Landed on the grass.
First thing I heard was a kid sayin’ “I think the wind blew her off the deck step”
My next thought: I finally got to dance along the light of day!
Jupiter drops in my hair.
Milkyway.
Venus blowin’ my mind.
The whole shebang.
I then opened my eyes.
Ivy with that look.
The Lil’wrekker saying “pull her shirt down” and snapping a picture.
I plucked up courage and voice and said “Girl, Imma kill you. Delete that!”
I had heard a girlie grandkid squeal. I saw a boyish grandkid running.
I thought “snake”.
I popped up from my snooze on the deck chair.
The wind blew()
I’m fine. No animals or Beck’s were injured in the process. No boo-boos. No pains. Well, Ivy is a pain.
Glucose is fine. Brain is fine(well, no worse than it was)
I’ve been a bit off all last week.
The docs are on it.
Mama said there’d be days like this.
Did the wind sweep me off my feet?
Why yes, yes it did.
On July 11, 1961, San Francisco Giants pitcher Stu Miller is literally blown off the mound during the All-Star Game at Candlestick Park. In the ninth inning, high winds cause the 165-pound Miller to lose his balance. Umpires call a balk, allowing the runners, Al Kaline and roger Maris into scoring position.
I’ve been blown over by jet blast on Sunset Beach by the airport in Sint Maarten. They’ve made things safer in recent years, but the big Air France planes used to purposely put on a show.
It was still very stormy that night and, at one point, I foolishly decided to have a walk on the deck. As soon as I got there, there was an extremely strong gust of wind and I slid along the water-covered deck. I managed to stay on my feet, but thought it wise to go back inside.
A broom is drearily sweeping
Up the broken pieces
Of yesterday’s life
Somewhere, a queen is weeping
Somewhere
A king has no wife
And the wind, it cries
“Mary”
The 8x6 transonic wind tunnel at NASA’s Glenn Research center can operate in several modes. One mode is called “combustion cycle” when you have an engine being tested that is actually burning fuel. Because the engine needs clean air, there is a place on the back side of the tunnel loop where the airspeed in the tunnel is fairy low compared to the test section. 120 mph vs 1000 mph. At this location there are large steel doors on tracks that can be slid back to let the “bad air” out. About 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide. There are gates that can be place so people don’t get too close to the exhausting air. Except for us on the tunnel crew. You can walk towards the gates into the terrific blast of air coming out. You struggle against the wind and stagger forward one small step at a time. You have to lean further and further forward as you go. You end up walking at a 45 degree angle like in a cartoon. If you make it to the gates you can grasp the top rail and hop up. Your legs trail in midair as you laugh and laugh like an idiot. Then you realize your arms are getting tired and you have no idea how to get back down.
The unwritten tales from inside NASA. I should write a book.
)