I did something yesterday I hadn’t done in a long, long time.
It was quite by accident, I wouldn’t have planned it, and in fact, had I known what I was getting into, I would’ve done whatever I could to avoid it.
Under cotton ball-dotted blue skies during the afternoon rush, I walked into the grocery store. A full shopping cart and an empty pocketbook later, I walked out into unexpected gray and gloom; not just rain mind you, but furious pregnant drops defying gravity with a sideways pour.
The parking lot had been crowded when I arrived, forcing me to park at the far end. "It’s better for me, anyway" I remember thinking.
There were no two ways about it, I was going to get wet.
Person after person in the same boat as I made a run for it; it’s funny to watch someone make an umbrella out of a bag of dogfood. It’s also entertaining to watch people dancing and dodging to avoid the inevitable–this was a deluge, THEY WERE GOING TO GET WET!
I considered going back inside to buy an umbrella to add to my ever-growing car collection. Though I’m hardly made of sugar and in no danger of melting, I had actually put on make up and fixed my hair, and I knew in seconds the effort would be gone with the rain.
But then Natasha Bedingfield started humming in my ear–
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
— and I decided to take her advice literally.
At first quickly, then intentionally slowing, I made my way to my car.
As odd as it sounds, I invited the rain. There’s a huge difference between getting drenched because you have no choice and consciously choosing to get soaked. I turned my face cloud-ward and smiled, thrilled with the splash that was most certainly painting rivers of black down my cheeks (confirmed with a rearview mirror check).
I looked like a crazy fool, but I couldn’t care less. This, my friends, was a celebration of soul, a liberation of spirit!
A progression of childhood memories flooded my mind as I neared my car–playing in the rain with my best friend Kimberly (mud pies always to follow), hovering in our basement while tornadoes rampaged our city right after my fourth-grade birthday party, my own children donning their swimsuits and–armed with magical umbrellas–discovering the joy of summer rain. I can still see Rachel’s exuberant face, mouth open and tongue extended, satisfying her thirst for more than just water. For life!
And, so I drove home, face now mascaraed instead of lashes, hair glued to my head in poodley straggles, and in dire need of dry clothes…
…musing that indeed, parking at the far end of the lot was better for me.
Boy, does this bring back memories! My kids love to play in the summer rain. The girls ask to put on their bathing suits and just “go for it!” I love to watch them play. Unless I’m trying to keep dry and nice for Sunday (church), I don’t mind to get a little wet (and sometimes carried away) either.
I love a good rainstorm! B and I go outside a lot when it’s raining and I let her splash in puddles and play with earthworms. Something oddly healthy feelin’ about rainwater on my skin.
Love it! Love it, love it, love it! Maybe next time it rains (though no telling how long that will be) the kids and I can go out and dance in the rain! 🙂 THANK YOU.
I haven’t played in the rain for a long time. This brings back fond memories.
I used to love the rain then I grew up and discovered make-up and fixed my hair and rain became a bad thing.
Thanks for the reminder to take the time to enjoy life more.
Stumbled upon your blog today and sure enjoyed this post! One of my favorite memories is of one particular pre-marriage rainy evening when hubby and I danced shamelessly in the parking lot of my old apartment complex.
I’ll stop posting complaints in Twitter about the rain, now – thanks for the timely redirect.
I always park at the edge of the lot – away from the inconsiderate, door-dinging noobs. Counterculture all the way, I guess.
I tend to walk slowly when it’s raining outside, and have been known to skip through puddles and open my mouth while tilting my head back. I get stares, but then again I always seem to be the only person in the lot who actually enjoys the experience.
Into every life some gloom will fall. May as well embrace it. Thank you, Robin, for stating it so eloquently and purely.
I’ve done this before, too. It’s amazingly freeing. Suddenly I’m four again and splashing in my pink rain boots. A puddle was a treasure. A splash was excitement.
It made me smile. That happened to me once when I was with my kids. We did the same thing…held hands, walked slowly, giggled, and tried to jump into every puddle. Now every time there is rain when we are at the store, my daughter says, “Hey Mom, remember that time…”
Beautiful!
Singing in the rain just singing in the rain. What a glorious feeling I’m hap-py again!
I love, love, love playing in the rain!!
Especially barefoot in the mud puddles. I am SO there!
: D
I’m so happy to be a grandma now so that I can take my little grandson with me into the downpours and it won’t look quite as much like I’m a batty old girl!
I only like to do it when it is very, very hot and the downpour is sudden and there is a certain undefinable scent in the air of warm soil and dry grass.
It’s like being 6 again.
Priceless.
Perfect – both your experience and the word-picture you painted to describe it.
For me, embracing the rain is not so much like being 6 again…
It’s like being 48.
(Okay, almost 49.)
I’m pretty sure I did this last week! 🙂
my kinda shoppin’ oh yeah!
I definitely did this in college. When you need to get all the way across campus in 10 minutes in a late-summer Arkansas thunderstorm, you’re GOING to get wet. Very wet. Drenched, even. So you may as well enjoy it! 🙂
Awesome! I love relishing the rain like that. 😀
That is the song I have on my cell phone!! I like how it is all about being real and just enjoying life. I’m glad you welcomed the rain!!
I loved the prose and this is exactly what I do, too! It’s so nice to know there are other “crazies” out there who can take the time to be carefree and welcome the storms in life… because there’s always a rainbow at the end!
Oh Robin, that sounds wonderful. I bet the rain was warm too, wasn’t it? I love that…absolutely love that.
You know that side bar of yours – over in the section titled, “Some of my favorites”? Well if WE got to vote, this post would end up there. I’ve never been a big fan of the rain. Your writing here and an article by John Piper (yes, I just put you in the same category as John Piper) that I read and blogged about quite a while back that change my thoughts and feelings about rain. This was absolutely wonderful to read.
I have to admit that a summer rainshower in the South is WAY different than rain in the Pacific NW – I just remember being down there and opening my hotel room door for about 5 seconds and closing it back up and being drenched. Even though it rains tons here – most of the time it is more like a misty sort of soft rain.
I love that you chose to accept the beauty rather than weather the rain – it makes for much more beautiful memories!
Not only have you made me smile, you have made me look forward to the next rainy day so I can “invite the rain” too!!
Ahh I love a good rain storm. We throw on the puddle stompers and head out with the girls and they love it! Some of the most fun ever.
Fantastic! I love that song, never fails to inspire me. Now I will think of your gracery cart in the rainy parking lot when I hear it!
Oooo, man…company this weekend means I haven’t responded well at all to y’all, but I’m so lovin’ that you seem to GET ME! Thanks for taking the time to chime in…you KNOW that makes my day!!
🙂
That sounds like fun! It’s been awhile but I remember doing just about the same thing once or twice. I love a good storm – if there’s thunder and lightening it’s even better!
I love this Robin! What a great post.
Way to go girl! I love the rain when its warm but find it a bit chilly today! I must admit I made a dash for it! With lots of laughter of course! The kids thought it was hilarious and joined in too!
I agree. It is different when you invite the rain in. And, I also agree on how funny it is to watch people make “umbrellas” and “shields” against the rain out of the most hilarious objects!
I love walking in the rain. Unfortunately rain comes with thunder here, so we don’t get a whole lot of opportunity.
As much as I love the rain my comment has to do with the song that popped into your head. That is my workout song…I just love the lyrics. I have over 100+ pounds to lose and am in constant need of energizing music when walking the treadmill. I downloaded that song just b/c I liked the music but then when I really listened it became my “theme song” for working out. “No one else can feel it for you…today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.” However, my other song is “If you’re going through hell” by Rodney Atkins…no joke! 🙂 Have a great day everyone!!
Okay, it’s not rain, it’s not the same, but it was all we had – and we had to MAKE it at that!
Come check out our rain post – inspired by the one and only YOU! 🙂
http://tinyurl.com/5rxbfx
Here for this post, via Blog Nosh!
I had a post like this a little while back, about getting caught in the rain. I often think back to that post to remind me to be more carefree!
Great post, Robin. 😀
Love it, love it, love it. I stroll in the rain in the grocery cart moments…love it, wet hair, runny mascara and all.
My son and one of his childhood buddies have fond memories of this crazy mom who sent, yes sent, them out to play in a spring rain shower. Read: days and days of rain, 2 7-yr. old boys who’d been cooped up FOREVER!
They had a blast, those two little mud-puppies had grins miles wide when they finally splurched their way back to our garage. Stripped off at the washing machine, and headed straight for the bathtub. Odd aside: their little underoos would NOT come clean…remained a pale muddy taupe despite our best efforts, and were a great reminder of a fun rainy day.
Gotta grab those moments to make memories, to savor the days and above all, SMILE and be thankful!
Thinking I will not accomplish much work today…this foggy-brained gal is now feelin’ woozy. Woo-hoo??