It came. Dark rainclouds began rolling in, obscuring the too-blue skies. Temperatures dropped and rain began mercilessly pounding the unprepared Utah soil. I was dancing. I spent an hour in the rain--an hour in Washington. I danced past my home, my school, my childhood haunts. I waved to neighbors, the tall evergreen trees, and to the friends I was sad to leave behind. A silly smile stuck on my face, I was a rainchild again, and I loved it--ruined hair, damp denim and all. So for all of you that hated the recent rainstorms--blame me. I was homesick and wished for rain.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wet Pavement
Wet pavement. It's a sight too often absent in Provo, Utah. I grew up in Washington--the West-Coast Washington--where it rains, and rains, and rains. A day of no rain is considered excellent; a day of no clouds is a miracle, even during the summertime. I used to think I hated it--all that rain; my hair never stayed straight, and the lower third of my pant legs were always soaking wet, along with my socks. I was glad to move to Utah, where the rain was scarce and the sunshine blinding, even during the wintertime. During the first weeks, I was mesmerized by the blue sky, a perfect sheet of blue glass uninterrupted by the greyness of clouds. It was a miracle, all this sunshine. But soon it seemed a little too much. The sight of wet pavement--an unnatural phenomenon caused by the precise watering of the BYU sprinkler system--made me homesick for grey skies and rainy days. The sunshine was too bright, the sky too bare without clouds to hide its stark blueness above the mountains. I began wishing for a rainy day, a day of puddles, mud and real wet pavement.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Washingtonians unite! I totally agree with you. The sun here was really nice for a while, but I, too, started to miss the rain when I thought I never would. That monday afternoon rainstorm made my ENTIRE WEEK. It's weird how weather can make such a difference in my life, but it does.
ReplyDeleteI am from North Carolina and I know that it doesn't rain nearly as much as Washington, but I also miss it so much. I was so happy to see overcast skies and when the rain began to fall I was so excited. I also played in the rain. I sang, danced, and jumped in puddles. It was awesome to just let go.
ReplyDeleteI am from Utah and don't think it doesn't rain here. In the spring time it rains so much it's almost obnoxious. I know everyone says Utah is a desert.....but it still rains a ton
ReplyDeleteI am from Reno, Nevada. It is a desert there. I am always hoping for rain, and when it comes it is bliss. Thank you so much for your wish. I love the rain, it is my favorite type of weather. With the scarcity of it in Reno I enjoyed every second of it.
ReplyDeleteAw, that's so cool that you got your wish. I love the line "I spent an hour in the rain -- an hour in Washington." That was really cool. And I know what you mean about being homesick. I'm not necessarily sad because I love it here but a couple of nights ago I dreamt about the beach because I'm from San Diego. It's true that you never know how much something is a part of you until you're missing it.
ReplyDelete