Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head

I went to TRX/Kettlebells today - a friend of mine is the instructor and he invited me.

It was a *great* class and I left totally drenched and exhausted. And very, very happy, for that's my favorite way to feel after exercise.

On my way to class, the sky looked very much like this:

And while we were busy sweating and cursing, the skies opened up and the rain fell. It pelted the roof and sounded quite as if it would come through at one point.

Leaving class, I was behind a very small little boy, maybe not quite 2, and his grandmother. He was properly attired for the weather, wearing the smallest little black boots and a dark blue raincoat. He was buttoned snuggly inside, hood up over his cute little face. When he saw the rain, his entire body broke out into excited wiggles. I could hear him from several feet away.

"Is WAINING! Wook!  Is WAIN!" and he ran out of the door, lifted his face to the sky, and as the rain pelted him in the face, he laughed some more.

From my vantage point behind him, I saw his grandma, who joined him in laughter. Looking around us, though, I noticed that *everyone* else was not laughing. No, people were hunched over, frantically trying to keep dry and get out of the rain post haste.It was a heavy rain, no doubt, and I really didn't have any desire to drive home soaked to the skin and shivering - but his delirium was infectious. I watched him stomp in the puddles with his grandma, giggling at the water and listened to his shrieks of excitement and I wondered -

When do we lose that love of being in the rain? Why do we hate rainy days so, so much? Other than the fact that a rainy day makes me long for a nap, why else would one dread the rainy days?

I drove home, pondering this, and soon saw my answer. In the form of a three car accident, where two of the drivers had gotten out of their cars, leaving the driver doors open into on coming traffic. They stood toe to toe, nose to nose, and screamed at each other, headless of the oncoming traffic, ready to either remove their doors or their lives as they vilified each other over a rear end collision. Fingers pointing, forehead veins popping, furiously, frantically screaming their fury.

Oh, yeah. THAT'S why we hate the rain.

That, and the fact that it makes people drive 20 under the speed limit.

Comments

[Sonirox]

I love, love, love this post!! Not long ago my teenaged daughter and I were out for a jog and got caught in the rain. At first I was annoyed but she was enjoying it so much it WAS infectious!! She actually has been known to go running in the rain on purpose! But sadly I also get your point about people behaving badly and, my worst peeve, driving WAY under the speed limit. Keep these great observations coming!

[Elizabeth]

I've had the same thought when Charlie wants to play outside in the backyard when raining. He loves to drag out his big toy dumptruck and digger and play in the mud.

And people who drive like they've seen rain before drive me nuts!

[Katherine]

I have stomped in many a puddle with the kids... I love the rain still. But like you said.... NOT while driving!

[Sara]

Is it just me? I don't drive 20 miles under the speed limit unless the rain is REALLY bad, but maybe those drivers were speeding and being aggressive as usual instead of slowing down a bit because of the rain. We should slow down a bit, and then we can enjoy it.

[Brandy]

I like the rain and have been known to raise my face up to it and feel the drops. The only reason I don't like driving in the rain is the fact you mentioned, people driving like they've never seen rain before.

[Headless Mom]

Before HD and I married I got to take HG to Memphis to meet all of my relatives there. (Important to know: it only very rarely rains in SoCal in the summer.) She was fascinated by a summer rain shower that was as warm as bathwater. Needless to say, we went out and danced in the rain and had a BALL.

[kyooty]

Better safe than sorry. You should see what snow does to the people (and I use the word loosely) for people.

SLOW can't be a bad thing.