The classroom is erupting in chaos, and students are tripping over each other as they make their way to the door.  The teacher is still collecting her thoughts and papers, but then finally gets around to announcing to the few students still remaining: “That’s it for today!  Class dismissed!”

Homes are flattened along the coastline, the Red Cross has been delivering necessary supplies to survivors for days, debris is scattered far and wide.  The news reporter annouces:  “The Governor has decided to declare the Texas coast a disaster area.”

The song ends and four-fifths of the congregation sits down.  The pastor gets up to pray and instructs, “You can all take your seat.”

The first twenty students are already in line for the Titan as the last group members make it through the turnstile at Six Flags.  The youth minister raises his voice as if he is addressing the entire group:  “You guys can take off on your own…we’ll meet back here for lunch!”

Similarly…

High temperatures have been in the 100’s for ten days.  The grass outside of the path of the sprinkler is as crispy as hay.  Everyone in Texas is wearing the thinnest, skimpiest layers they can decently get away with.  When June 21 comes around and all of the weathermen announce “it’s officially the first day of summer,” they seem a little late to the party.