New Boots and a Water Main

Today I had a meeting at DCFS. 

On my way down  Adams I realized that there was a police road block. I quickly cut down a side street to avoid the area. As I crossed Jefferson I noticed a ways down there was another police blockade right in front of the DCFS office. Thoroughly confused, I  found my way through a neighborhood and came up on Jefferson again, and found another road block.  I took another side street, got lost and found myself back on Adams going away from where I needed to be.  So, I made my way back though the neighborhood, back to the police road block where I began to plead with the police officer. 

 “I have an appointment at the DCFS office, I need to get there.”  

“M’am, the water main broke, there is water everywhere we can’t let you drive through there.” 

“Ok, can I pull through and park? Can I walk there?” The officer gave me a confused look but waved me on through the road block. 

here's a map of where the DCFS office is.

The Adams/Jefferson one-ways made the jaunt just that much more exciting.

So, picture this. Me. Walking down the middle of the road in down town Peoria with my important little black file folder in my brand new black suede  boots. Water is gushing everywhere. Freezing cold icy water. By this time I’ve nearly fallen three of four times, my binder flying halfway across the street.  

Two blocks down the street I find the DCFS office and the broken water main. But, now there is a four inch deep river of water gushing between me and the DCFS office.  So, I walked up to the officers who were manning this side of the road block. “excuse me... Excuse me.” They  turn around with a shocked look on their faces. “is there a way to get into the office?” They look at me and the water and the street and the office. “walk.” They say clearly confused with where I came from (and, probably more concerned with the amount of water spurting on to the street)  I look at the water and my boots.  Alright. And, so, I walked straight through the water to the DCFS office.  :) My inner farm girl puddle jumping self was grinning all the way. 

Here's a picture from the Journal Star.

There is also a video here.

Inside the DCFS office, no one could believe I was there.  One woman told me “you better have you supervisor on speed dial ‘cus if you slip and fall I ain't comin’ to get you and it’s a rough neighborhood- you’ll get beaten!” :)

About fifteen minutes later the police closed down the DCFS building because they had deemed it ‘unsafe’ so, we rushed through the meeting and I was back walking down the street to find my car. 

Once I reached the safety of my car, without falling down or getting beaten, I realized I was stuck now between four police barricades.  And, the roads were sheets of ice, running with water and covered in huge chunks of dirt.

So I snuck (yes, I was being sneaky in my car, however that works) down a side road and on to Adams again.  When I came to the fourth road block I again snuck past the police car and was free. :)

I do believe the whole police force and DCFS think that I am crazy.

In Christ

~Michelle