the smell of rain
Sometimes I can’t believe I live in San Diego.
I used to love slogging on my coveralls and going for a walk around the farm and pasture on grey and rainy days. The creek was a great place to muck around in my green rubber boots when the water was up and the current surged through pools and over mini waterfalls. Some of my favorite bike rides have been in utterly miserable and stormy weather. Theme parks and rainy days work for me due to short lines but more specifically myself, Scott Biernath and Pastor Dan on the log flume in a steady rain. Dave’s driving in the rain always relaxed me but others might fret about keeping their arms and hands inside the ride at all times. After a random Southern Illinois midnight camping trip, waking up to a downpour and soggy tent/sleeping bag proved to be the refreshing wake up call that Ken’s tag-along, wind-up alarm clock failed to elicit. The morning hike out, along the rising lake and across the runoff tributaries, still puts a smile on my face. Jen shrowded in her blanket/poncho judging the waters like an ancient mystic and Ken forging ahead in his typical modern mountain man style. Kristin and Katie surely didn’t enjoy the spectacle of it all (or at least not as much as I did). The rain in Japan made my skin feel electric and brought my travel buzz even higher.
Today I’ve been in a really good mood and one of the main reasons has been the intermittent drizzles and showers all day long. The post-storm sky tonight around sundown was insanely complicated and amazing. Normally, I rarely pry my ass out of the house since I work and live here but today was a nice change. By some pleasing coincidences I was out and about at several different times today. My car is pleased with nature’s power wash since I’ve not yet gotten around to its yearly scrubdown. (Yes, my San Diego citizenship is sure to be revoked if my car care habits go public.) Does most of the southern California area grumble about a day being ruined or do they look with wonder at the sky and inhale the clean scent with a smile when they realize precipitation is on its mysterious way? Who knows… maybe all these idiots here hate the rain. Me? I like having a fender on my bike.
Maybe the pacific northwest would truly make me happy, but somehow, I doubt it. I really do like to appreciate what I’m blessed with. My numerous preoccupations and narrow focus of attention often makes certain that I’m not aware of what I truly prize until it’s gone. But today… Today I feel spoiled rotten. Though, I don’t like to skateboard in the rain…
This weekend is the Action Sports Retailer Show where surfers, skateboarders and other similar “industries” ply their wares and throw around their best stunt guys/girls. That’s gotta be the rain dance that brought my lovely weather. Let it pour. I’ve been avoiding the roller board for lack of insurance and honestly the world certainly needs rain more than the scourge known as insurance.
Ooh i’m rambling again. And it’s still raining. Chako hates me for being me right now. I won’t even go into that. I hope it rains tomorrow though. I’ll be needing those lovely mood lifting, refereshing, cleansing effects. Chako likes the rain too.
SEE ALSO:
Quasimoto – Good Morning Sunshine
”... a whole new ballgame, a whole new day…”
p.s. apologies for lame personal reminiscences.
7 September 2002, 01:50 ::
commenting closed for this article
— callmesoggy 2002-09-12 07:06 #
My own schmaltz: little kid, lying on top bunk, looking out the window across the driveway at my grandparents’ house, wishing I was there, listening to the plinkety-plink of the rain on the top of the mobile home.
— elbee 2002-09-21 20:39 #