I woke up this morning to the sound of heavy rain. As I poured my first cup of coffee and sat down at my computer, I could hear the wind teasing my wind chimes out on the porch. I love that sound. I’m always awed at the cozy feeling rain always brings. It’s so contrary to the dark and dreary mood usually associated with waking up to a rainy day.
Now, hours later, the peaceful feeling is still with me, and I think it's because, today, I am invited to remember...
When I was a child and it rained, there were always a million fun things we could do. There were six children growing up in my house -- my cousin, Bill, who was like a brother, lived with us and he and I were the oldest. Like with most large families, there was never a dull moment, and I can't say that we were ever bored. All of us had creative imaginations and we were forever pretending.
In the summer, after our chores were done, the days were pretty much ours to do what we wanted, if we didn't have early swimming lessons. If we did, then as soon as we got home, we disappeared outside to play games, ride bikes, roller skate, or maybe climb up in the old apple tree to read or build Swiss Family Robinson's tree house from scrap wood we found in the woodshed.
Today's rain pulled me back to another rainy day a long time ago. That day began with a thunder storm, too --we always loved thunder storms. At the first rumble of thunder, we headed to our big front porch to watch Mother Nature work her magic in pyrotechnics.
When the storm wound down to a steady rain, someone --I don't remember who, now --came up with the idea to go to the basement and build a blanket fort. All for one, and one for all, our brains were filled with wonderful plans.
First we raided the linen closet. Arms loaded up with blankets and sheets, we headed down the basement stairs. We weaved heavy twine and rope back and forth, from one wall to the one across, and then draped our sheets and blankets over the lines -- each of us had our own living quarters that way.
Next we borrowed Mama’s vacuum cleaner hose to use as a telephone. That was always hysterical, because it left a perfect black circle of dirt around our mouths. Every time we looked at each other, we laughed until our sides ached. We had such a great time that day, all of us together just being kids.
Like with most creative projects, most of the fun was in the actual creation, which took us nearly the whole day ---clean-up was always something we avoided, until mom got after us with threats of no TV till it was cleaned up.
Those are the days I remember best -- the sweet childhood days that were as long as twenty days are now.
Could be, that's why I'm still not ready to grow up ...
I, too, love the rain and it has to go on for many days before I begin to tire of it. Living out here in our drought-stricken valley, I never get enough. There are a lot of secret places I like to huddle down in when it rains but one of my top favorites is in the car with hubby driving. It feels so cloistered and intimate with the smeared watercolors of the outside world dripping in rivulets down the side windows, the washed-and-wiped view through the windshield with the wipers making their rhythmic sound against the wet glass, fighting a losing battle: "YAY RAIN!" while drowning out the sounds of traffic except for an occasional splash from a puddle hitting us broadside, and the sound of rain pelting the roof above rivaling the metallic drum-tap on a tin awning for award-winning atmospherics. I am a big lover of atmosphere in all its many forms and rain provides the very best. Thanks for opening a window into your rainy-day childhood fantasy world and letting me climb inside!
I love being present with the rain. It's either the time for me to head outside since it's when the parks and woodlands tend to be most deserted, or just quiet inside listening. Thank you for this piece, I enjoyed being transported back to these memories of childhood with you.