It’s Thursday, which means today I’m writing off of a prompt that I drew from my “thought box.”
Today’s topic turned out to be perfect for what we’ve been experiencing here in Austin for the last week.
I know that a lot of people think rainy days are for the fishes. Or for gloomy moods and boredom.
I tend to be from the camp of people who feel that rainy days are the bee’s knees.
I absolutely love them.
There are actually two types of rainy days, and I love them both.
The first is what we’re experiencing now- days and days of overcast skies and intermittent showers.
I think these are the days that get some people down, and I can see where they’re coming from. It does tend to put me in a bit of a melancholy mood, but I don’t mind that much. It puts a damper (no pun intended) on plans to go running outdoors and on doing outdoor activities. I don’t mind that much either.
I don’t usually consider myself a lazy person, but if I have a valid excuse, I can be the laziest person on the planet. I consider rain a valid excuse.
There is nothing that I love more than to snuggle up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot tea, listening to the sound of rain falling outside. I use rainy days as an excuse to get out my paints and create things. I give myself extra hours to write and journal. I do a lot of thinking, and honestly believe I get my best ideas when the weather is disgusting.
I rarely give myself the opportunity to watch television or movies (I’m a busy gal), but when it’s rainy, I completely indulge.
The other type of rainy day is my absolute favorite-thunder storm days.
The most hate-mail I ever received was when I stupidly admitted that “I love tornadoes” on the radio.
While I regret my choice of words, I still stand by the reason behind my statement.
Let me explain.
I grew up in central Texas, where tornado warnings are as common as 90 degree days. During the spring and summer, it was not uncommon to hear the sound of a siren and to then spend a couple hours shut up in a closet with a flashlight and a pile of books.
I know this probably should have been a fearful situation for a child, but I found it exciting. I also really liked being told to read a book in a closet.
In school when the sirens went off, we would all be shuttled out to the hall and instructed to “duck and cover.” I’ll never forget the butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling of excitement that this produced.
As I got older, I grew more fascinated with the weather-how quickly it can change, and how powerful it can be. Instead of hiding in a closet, I would be the last person in the neighborhood standing outside on the porch staring up at the sky. I became obsessed with watching radars, and took a few FEMA classes in college. I still sometimes think that I should have gotten a degree in Emergency Management.
I never underestimate the destructive power of weather, and I acknowledge that it can be absolutely devastating.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t still find it fascinating.
Luckily, the storms aren’t usually as destructive here in Austin. I do still get excited when we get a good storm.
There is nothing that can be compared to the feeling I get when the wind starts picking up.
If you happen to hear the sound of chaotic wind chimes and dogs barking….. or notice that the sky has turned an eerie color- you know where you can find me. I’ll be on the front porch with goosebumps on my arm, watching the storm blow in.
