Recalling flooding and a 1983 wedding

It was the coldest shower of my life, on one of the hottest days of the year no less.

I was in my Aunt Nancy's wedding and had to figure out how to get into this gray tuxedo, complete with a vest. I was the ring bearer for her and my soon-to-be Uncle Dave.

But wicked, hard-core storms pounded the western Chicago suburbs during the rehearsal dinner.

They knocked out power, overwhelmed storm drains, turned the street into a virtual river, and transformed my parents unfinished basement into a watery mess.

The sump pump was useless. So the drain backed up, and the cascade of, um, liquid knocked out the pilot light on the hot water heater.

So my shower was cold, by candlelight - and very quick.

That was back on July 2, 1983.

But I still remember it vividly.

My family and I went out and had a great time. The water had to wait until later.

It was only a few inches, but it destroyed most of my Star Wars toys, which would probably be worth a lot on eBay these days. More than shares of AIG, right?

So Han Solo didn't get killed by Darth Vader's lightsaber. He suffered a soggy fate.

For a 9-year-old, it was a huge bummer.

But we cleaned up the basement. The sun came up the next day and we got through it OK. My dad later bought an Ace-in-the-Hole to combat in case the power ever went out again.

With last weekend's record rains, I realize this scene repeated itself across the Fox Valley.

And some families probably lost a heck more than Star Wars toys from their basements, which hopefully were unfinished.

Furnaces. Appliances. Maybe vehicles.

Pictures and precious memories, by extension.

But the sun will come up tomorrow. And you'll get through it.

If you're reading this right now, that probably already has happened. And if not, you're in my thoughts.

Second-year success: The second-annual golf outing held this summer for Cal's All-Star Angel Foundation was a rousing success.

More than 125 people golfed and 305 people had dinner at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles and raised $85,000 so the South Elgin-based group can provide financial assistance to kids fighting cancer and their families.

The tally was $12,000 more than the first outing.

The foundation was formed by the parents of Cal Sutter, a 13-year-old from South Elgin and all-star baseball player who died in 2006 from leukemia.

The next outing is planned for June 12, 2009. The inaugural Cal's All-Star Angel Foundation, Inc. 5K Run will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008. This is an unsanctioned race. The event will also include a two-mile walk and Kids' Fun Run. For more information, visit www.calsangels.org.

More golf: Austin Christy, a 31-year-old who graduated Elgin High School, hoped to qualify for the Re/Max World Long Drive Championship in Las Vegas in October and a shot at the $250,000 grand prize.

But Christy broke his club in the seventh of eight rounds at the Sept. 6 regional in Rockford and was disqualified.

Maybe he'll make it next year.