As a very young boy, we got caught in one of those many low-water crossings in the Hill Country west of Austin. Got through 3 of the four crossings after a thunderstorm further west started the waters rising, but the water in each crossing was higher and higher every time. Dad tried to make it through the fourth - but got stuck halfway across.
To him, it was probably- had to have been! - frightening and scary. To us, as kids? A fun day getting pulled out of the car, carried through the flood waters on his back to shelter, and watching the wrecker pull the car out.
When I was 4, the river the family ranch is on flooded in June when we were all at my grandparents’ house for a birthday party-it was/is the nearest house to the river of the three on the property.
We had been chased inside by the rain early in the afternoon, had lost power just before dark, and lighted candles and lamps. No one wanted to go out in what was by then a supercell, but when water came in under the door, we were all gathered up holding each other’s wrists, told to hold onto the two cats and dog, and made our way to car and truck to go to my uncle’s house at the highest point on the property, but the creek crossing at the bottom of the first hill was full-we stayed up there all night in our cars and trucks while the storm went crazy, getting out as soon as the rain quit, light came and the water was low enough to cross-that was the scariest night I’ve ever spent, and I’m terrified of floods.
Wow Robert - that does sound very frightening! And you are probably correct - your Dad was probably so scared while you all thought it was fun.