Outside the Window - Creative Writing #4

It's dark outside, yet the sun is still out. At best, there should be golds, blues, and pinks across the sky as the sun falls slowly below the horizon. It's one of my favorite times of day, really. But, instead, it is dark. Gray, murky clouds fill the sky and rain falls steadily ouside the window, causing the water in the newly filled pool to dance. It is magnificent.

Yesterday, I awoke to a storm - thunder and lightning with rain falling steadily about.

Today, the sun was up and the air was humid. I did not think it would rain, yet, there it is again. Rain.

Glorious, beautiful rain. I love storms. I love rain.

I think I'm a rarity. Often, people complain about how gloomy it is or how dark it is or how the rain won't stop. I understand. Sometimes, the rain brings flooding and damage to homes. My own husband's Saturn was once victim to flooding. He hadn't a choice when he tried to get off the highway, but the car was totalled as a result.

Still, I find the sound of rain on my rooftop to be soothing. I love the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning that comes just before it.

I love this website: Rainymood.Com

It plays rain sounds over and over, including thunder. Of course, it lacks lightning, but there is no threat here. No worry about flooded roads and no worry about damaged homes. No one needing rescue as the water falls from the sky. It's soothing to me and makes me want to close my eyes and imagine a time or day without worry. Safe in the confines of my home with my family - I can listen to this sound forever.

Now, I grant you, there are times when even I long for a sunny day to off-set the rainy. May 2016 was such a month. We had 1 clear day that I can recall. The rest of the month was stormy. This causes problems in a city made mostly of cement and steel, with little earth or water to soak in the rain.

I am among very few who love storms. Many people grouse about them.

For me, I imagine forests where the sky is hard to see above the leafy canopies, but it's dark gray. Rain falls, causing the ground below, littered with greenery from the Redwoods above, to be damp. Drops fall from the branches and leaves above. It is green everywhere and, while it is raining, I am merely damp, not soaked or cold.

Perhaps, because I was at Jones Gulch during such rainy times, I have grown to love it. I was enjoying Outdoor Ed in 5th grade when it rained on us. Fortunately, Monday night was my night hike and the skies were clear and the stars were fantastic to look at. I heard the rain of the rest of the week ruined the view for others. For me, I recall a warm Spring night, a clear star-filled sky, and excitement as we traveled in the dark through the Redwood forest.

The next day, it sprinkled as we explored the ground area, looking for banana slugs to kiss and become part of the Banana Slug Club. Ew, I know, but I enjoyed it. It stormed hard that night as I lay in my bunk in my sleeping bag above my BFF's bunk. I listened and fell into an easy sleep. Every day, that's how it was. Gray and damp, some rain. Nothing terrible and we went home Friday on the bus, none the worse for the rainy weather.

I love the rain. Bring it on.