Rain, rain, come again!

It rained today!!  What a blessing in the drought we’ve been having.  But my affinity for rain probably goes way back to childhood rainy seasons in Africa.  There is just something amazing and invigorating about a heavy downpour!

I remember getting drenched in 3 seconds flat while going for a walk in Jos, Nigeria.  And once drenched, there is really no point in rushing to your destination.  Just enjoy the thrill of large, heavy drops pummeling your skin and plastering your hair and clothes.  I love it!!  Every step feels heavy with the weight of soaked clothes and shoes but absolutely worth the joyful experience.  No need to avoid puddles since rushes of water are already swirling at your feet from the sudden downpour.  I always felt so ALIVE in the middle of torrential rain!

I also remember watching dark clouds approach during some futbol (soccer) matches, impatiently anticipating the coming downpour.  And when it actually hit… WOW!  What an awesome feeling to play in the rain!

I have other memories of being “caught” in the rain (believe me, I was a willing victim) but among my favorites was the first rain after dry season.  I loved inhaling deep breaths of the earthy scent that marked the coming of rainy season when the world turned green once again.  Mmmmm….

One thing I’ve noticed is that rain in the U.S. (at least where I’ve lived) is usually much lighter and colder than what I experienced in Africa.  Most “heavy” rains here don’t qualify as heavy to me but I can appreciate them anyway.  When there really is a rainstorm, I still get the urge to run outside and dance around.  Sometimes I do…  :-)

Rain is something beautiful for all the senses!  You can tilt your head back, open your mouth, and taste the rain drops of a fresh rain on your tongue.  Or indulge in the scent of the first rain after a dry spell.  In a heavy shower, it’s a delight to watch the slanted sheets of rain and flash floods down the street.  You can also run around in the rain (try barefoot in the grass!) and feel the rain drenching you completely.  Some people don’t enjoy listening to a powerful rainstorm but I think they’re exciting and stimulating (especially on zinc roof – wow, haven’t heard that in a long time)!  If that’s not your thing, you can surely at least enjoy listening to the soothing pitter-patter of a light rain as you drift off to sleep.

In case you haven’t picked up on this yet, I love rain!!