Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain...

I'd like to give a shout-out to my neighbor, two houses down. He's an amazing man. To begin with, he entertains the neighborhood to no end by walking, jogging, or biking his dogs around several times a day. One of these dogs is an Irish Wolfhound the size of a small motorcycle. It's a wonder to behold. Impossible not to stop what you're doing and stare every time they go by. But this man does more than entertain. He's got some sort of tendre for the community. He picks up after everyone else's dogs. He gathers their litter every week as he makes his rounds. And right now, in the beastly pouring rain, he's standing on the corner fishing dead palm fronds out of the gutter with a rake so that the streets will stop flooding. I feel like I should be bringing him hot cocoa, but he's too busy to drink it, and his hands are full. Cookies, perhaps. Or some of that gingerbread already made. Everyone else is at work. No one knows what he does but me, curled up with a blanket and coffee. So I'll thank you, Michael. Thank you very much.