Showers Outside The Window

The weather here never ceases to amaze me. It can be a warm day with both rain and hail. Like today. I knew what to expect from Mother Nature today but that didn't make me any more fond of her. It's just my luck that the rain began pouring down in the afternoon when I decided to leave the building for lunch. Oftentimes I bring a lunch from home, packing leftovers or creating something quick/simple. Other days I'm too lazy to throw something together for myself.

I heard and saw the rain as I walked to the door to exit. I heard the warnings of coworkers advising against leaving and travelling in the rain. My car was parked in the last row of the parking lot today so I knew I had to make it more than just a few steps.

I flipped on the hood of my jacket and threw open my umbrella, which was useless. The wind was too fierce and threatened to break the device so I quickly shut the umbrella and ran to my car. No matter how fast I ran I would have gotten wet. But my bottom half was almost soaked. As I ran I could feel my pants getting wetter and wetter. Then my thighs and legs were wet.

It really hit me when I finally settled in the seat of my car. Once inside, I just sat there. Watching the rain, waiting for it to stop. I turned my windshield wipers on for a moment but I planned to wait out the rain a bit before driving. Funny, I was willing to wait in the car after being drenched by the rain instead of wanting to wait inside the building where I'd be dry and warm.

With the wipers on, I could see a co-worker walking back to the building, presumably from lunch. He used a pizza box to attempt to shield his head from the rain. I believe he knew it was a failed attempt. He started walking then picked up pace to run the remaining steps to the building. Some relief came to me as I realized I wasn't the only one looking foolish running in the rain.

Just as I was about to surrender defeat to the rain and drive out in it, the downpour slowed then eventually stopped. I used the opportunity to make the 5-minute drive to get a sandwich for lunch. Luckily the line to order was short. I ordered, paid, received my food, and made it back to the building before it started raining again. I'd been told it would rain on and off throughout the day.

I walked back to the building after parking. Walked instead of ran. I pulled my hood over my head again, this time to protect it from light rain drizzle.

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Two nights ago it stormed but the hours before the rain arrived were beautiful. Warm and sunny. Not warm enough to show bare arms and legs, it's still only beginning of spring, but warm enough to take a walk without any discomfort.

And two nights before that it was storming as well, this time thunder and lightning accompanied the rain. Loud, intimidating thunder. Bright, violent streaks of lightning.

I've never liked storms. Rain, I've never been a huge fan of, so thunder / lightning are specially a no no. Some people love the rain and embrace stormy weather. I've heard personal stories of people waiting for the rain, using it as an excuse to open windows and unwind. I've never found the rain to be relaxing, even when I'm not caught outside in it.

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My mom loves the sound and smell of rain. I remember being younger, and during our rainy springs, my mom would open all the windows in the house. To my dismay, this was her routine even with thunder and lightning. I used to think she was crazy when she said she liked the smell of rain. Rain doesn't have a smell, my childish mind thought.

But lo and behold, the older I got, the more I could smell the rain. And it stunk. I was and still am slightly baffled how she found so much joy and calm with the rain.

Some people do and equate rain with relaxation and even love. We've seen the sappy movies with adults playing, laughing and kissing in the rain. There are numerous songs about running and making love in the rain. That could never be me.