It has been very dry this fall in Saint Louis. Following an already dry summer, we have had almost no rain. I have been running sprinklers both front and back in the yard. Yesterday, rain was forecasted. The sky was certainly cloudy and ominous looking enough. The wind was also very still, and the air felt heavy, the calm before the storm. It was in this environment that I heard the distinctive sound of a hot air balloon burner jetting. I went outside and low, just above the trees, there were multiple balloons floating over the house. Anne and I walked the few blocks to a highway overpass, in hopes of seeing more of them, but alas we had come too late to the party. They had all floated off to the west, except for one. This sole survivor had sort of crash landed next to the highway. Almost in the exact same spot that a similar one had landed years ago, dangerously close to speeding traffic. Anne continued on to investigate, while I headed home. This year’s Great Forest Park Balloon Race was now one for the record books. Late last night, the peel of thunder rented the sky. Heralding at least a pause in our drought. This morning, we awoke to the sound of a steady and peaceful rain.