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.

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.

5 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. I 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.

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  3. I 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

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  4. I 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.

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  5. Aw, 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.

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