The
rain might hold off today.
Generally
speaking, I don’t mind the rain. But the lawn needs to be mowed,
the past few days have been a combination of mist and cold and
rain, and…
Yeah.
I’m
hoping the rain doesn’t make an appearance. It’s already wet out
there, and that might stop me, but I’d like to give the lawn a
shot.
Years
ago… decades ago… I actually enjoyed it when the rain was falling.
I don’t remember the first time I noticed it, but it seemed like
everyone else hated being outside in the rain. As a kid, playing
soccer in a league or basketball in my driveway, it became evident
that there was a bit of an advantage for someone that didn’t mind
being in a situation when everyone else preferred to be anywhere
else. They hated the rain. I didn’t. And once I noticed they hated
it, I learned to love it.
During
my time with track and cross country, my favorite time to be out
running was during a light rain. On that front, I actually know
I’m not alone. Provided you aren’t on a street with a ton of cars
and too many puddles, running in the rain is incredible.
Ahh…
but time marches on. The reality is, life tends to frown on rainy
day activities. Baseball cancels games. Holding an umbrella limits
some of the things you can do. And, frankly, wet socks can really
ruin a day. You can love the rain… thrive in the rain… the day-to-day
real world is going to limit your chances to fully embrace the
rain.
Three
or four times a year, the rain draws my attention to the gutters.
Leaves are involved. Blooming bushes. Pinocchio noses from the
maple trees. All this and more causing me to wonder if things
might be getting clogged and need a cleaning. Ladder comes out,
a to-do item crossed off.
How
often do you consider the rain and your plans?
Picnics,
sure. A trip to the zoo or maybe a beach isn’t the same when you’re
avoiding dark clouds and wondering if that was lightning. I’ve
certainly been on vacations when a week of theme park schedules
faced adjustment based on the forecast.
But
in general, I’m not so certain rain is as big a thing as it seems
like it should be. Like most of you, the vast majority of my plans
these days take place under some sort of cover. Other than having
to get to or from my car, there is something over my head far
more often than not during the day.
I
can mark a bit of the transition for me thanks to baseball. My
mom tells a story of Fenway Park and a day with my dad. The two
of us had gone to a game, and for him it was miserable. Rain delays
and damp and yuck. On the other hand, I was thrilled to see the
guys running around the field with the tarp. Fascinated by it.
Non-stop entertainment. Apparently, I went bonkers with anticipation
when it would begin to rain, cheering for the guys to run out
onto the field and begin positioning the huge tube so they could
cover the field. My dad? Not nearly as impressed.
I
do recall the excitement I felt, though not all of the specifics.
Then time marches on.
A
generation passes. Justin and I are at Shea Stadium. I can even
tell you the Mets were playing the Cardinals, and he was eight.
Rain delays and more rain delays. Cold evening, hot chocolate
and more hot chocolate. Justin was loving the guys with the tarp
and loving the cocoa. Me? Not nearly as impressed.
I
hate driving in the rain. Actually, that’s not completely true.
I don’t like driving in the rain at all, but what I hate is that
light rain where it’s coming down and you’re going to need the
wipers but it isn’t strong enough to justify keeping the wipers
on.
I
guess what I don’t like when it comes to the rain, in simplest
thought, is the altering of plans. When I need to get from point
a to point b for activity c, I want all of that to happen. I have
mapped out today for certain things. Not tomorrow. Not next Thursday.
Today. Let’s get it done.
And
it’s not just rain. It can be weather in general. Years ago, Mike
and Richard joined me at the house for a project. We were going
to rebuild the bulkhead to the basement. It was hot and sunny
and simply brutal. One of those mid-90s days, with the sun directly
overhead, and yuck. But it was also a weekend day that all three
of us had available to do the work. Sometimes, there’s no margin
for change.
I
will get out to mow the lawn today. Probably will have to wait
until later in the afternoon, when a bit of sunshine will help
dry things out a bit. And yet…
Tomorrow
I have a bit of time free. Could honestly use a nap. A bit of
rain would be perfect for that.