We've now had two days of decent rainfall. We came home from the gym the first day—my mother responded to our plea for help and chauffeured our sorry tails home. Miles hopped out of the car, ready to start his work for the day. I hopped a bit more exuberantly, having consumed both my cappuccino and finishing off my husband's when he deemed himself in the mood for cooler, less scorching drink.

It was to be a quick stop for me, as I was only removing the sweaty gym clothing from my bag and then heading out to spend the day with my mother. Miles proceeded to the lower level ahead of me. Mom and I spoke about our plans for the day when Miles, the articulate dude in the tower of Babel, grunted desperately, "Um, here, it's uh, you gotta, uh, Hon?" Mom and I looked at each other comically...somewhat like this, I would think.

Thump, thump, thump...

And suddenly Miles was at the top of the stairs, wild-eyed and perhaps drooling. "WATER!"

Mom and I, the logical strands of our threesome, picked our way calmly to the room while Miles followed hunched-backed and limping in a way that would put Quasimodo to shame. Miles was deeply disturbed as Mom assessed the situation. Quick to action, she and I were armed with mildew upholstery wipes, a wet/dry vac, and fabric freshening spray inside of an hour. Damn the woman's good.

We stowed Miles in a room upstairs and hoped the hives would stop emerging if he was away from his angst. This left the ergonomically incorrect, hunched-over work of the wet/dry vac to the females. I spent most of Wednesday in this fashion. I had to take two hot tub breaks because of the Charley horses and, you know, I stood upwrong as opposed to upright. Miles attested that evening, "You could've asked me to help, I would have gladly pitched in!" I patted his hand soothingly and wiped the saliva from his chin. I think my dear husband will be interesting in a delivery room.

But today! Today, with the help of my aunts' super-human-strength dehumidifier yesterday, I can trod upon the carpet without feeling like I am parting the Red Sea! Water no longer spurts up at me and hisses, "Halt! Who goes there?"

Last night, getting ready for bed, I told Miles, "You know, I've never stopped to give thanks for dry carpet before." He laughed nervously and dabbed the corner of his mouth.