For the Love of Rain

Written by Deb Dorchak - February 11, 2010 7 Comments

I think I’ve gone through a dozen starts and stops with today’s post and it took me a while to realize why: It’s raining.

Those of you who live in other areas where you’re probably tired of precipitation by now are probably thinking that wet, cold weather definitely is uninspiring when it goes on for days and days. February is probably the worst for those Winter Blues. Everything is gray and dreary, shoveling snow is becoming a chore and you can’t wait for the weather to turn nice again.

Out here in the desert where I’ve been living for the past 10 years, life is a little different. Rain or snow is rarely seen, and when it is, it’s cause for celebration. Twitter lights up with nearly every desert dweller asking, “Is it raining in your part of town? It is here! Oh look, it’s snowing too!”

Keep in mind, our version of excitable snow is nothing like yours. A single, microscopic flake is enough to make any of us Las Vegans go running for the boots and mittens.

The Waste Not, Want Not Phenomenon of Desert Rain

When I first moved out here I encountered a strange side effect of having grown up on the north eastern coast for most of my life.  Back East, beautiful sunny days were something you made sure you went out and enjoyed before more bad weather set in.

Once I moved out here, where every day is one of those “nice days”, I felt guilty if I didn’t go outside and use it. Eventually, feeling like I had to do so became a chore. What? Another nice day? You have to be kidding me! Where were the dark rainy days that allowed me an easy excuse to stay in with a warm cup of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich and be nothing but a slug all day?

Turns out, many of the transplants I spoke to had the same thing happen to them when they moved here. Nice days are a dime a dozen. The tables had shifted and now the dreary days were like gold.

When I worked for the sign company, the whole shop would stop what they were doing to go watch the rain. And when it snows? Oh man, that’s the headline news on television.

Silence of the Rain

Last week, Friar and Davina both put up extraordinary posts about silence. I know exactly the type of silence they were talking about, too. Snowfall silence. Silence so thick you can hear the wheels in your brain turning. Silence that blankets everything and offers you incredible clarity.

Out here, Rain Silence is a little different. It’s the sound of a quiet house and the patter of drops on the aluminum carport roof outside. It’s the wind tapping on the windows every so often. It’s a sense of warmth and security knowing you actually have warmth and security. Rain Silence is cleansing. It’s a way to slow down and recharge. It’s also knowing that it won’t last long enough for you to get tired of it, either.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go enjoy the rain. Rumor has it we may get a little snow in the valley too. Sounds like a bonus to me.

Related posts you might also like:

    None Found

Read the Comments

7 Outstanding Responses to "For the Love of Rain"

    Melissa Donovan on February 12, 2010 at 6:16 pm • Permalink

    It gets pretty cold here in Cali but it never snows in the area where I live. In fact, I’ve only been to the snow a handful of times in my life. I do love the sound of rain. It makes me want to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. Truly inspiring!
    .-= Melissa Donovan’s last post… SEO Keyword Research and Selection Process =-.

    Davina on February 13, 2010 at 6:47 pm • Permalink

    Hi Deb. I know exactly what you mean. There are those particular rainy days during the summer when I’m thankful for an “excuse” to stay in and not feel guilty. What a bunch we are eh? As much as I prefer the warm, bright, summer days, there is something comforting about a cozy rainy day. The sound of the rain is relaxing, as well as the sound of the traffic rushing by on the wet streets. On those days I’ll either curl up on the couch, or sit on my balcony and just listen. Even though it’s warm outside, the silence of the rain gives me the shivers :-) And yes… grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup; perfect choice.
    .-= Davina’s last post… Take a Spiritual Bawdy Break =-.

    Davina on February 13, 2010 at 6:50 pm • Permalink

    Ooops, I hit the submit button too fast… thank you for linking to my silence post. :)
    .-= Davina’s last post… Take a Spiritual Bawdy Break =-.

    Friar on February 14, 2010 at 11:00 am • Permalink

    That’s my problem in the summer. We only have so many weeks of warm sunny weather (May/June/July/August). And we can get snow well into May…so it’s not that much time to enjoy it.

    When it’s nice out, I feel “compelled” to go do something outdoorsy, and make the best of it. Bass fishing starts the last weekend of June, and by mid-Sept, they start to slow down already. So I’m like an anxious dog that needs to go for a walk…sitting home doing nothing stresses me out.

    But like Davina, I almost WANT it to rain, just to give me an excuse to just chill out and relax.

    I keep telling myself I don’t HAVE to do this…it’s self-imposed stress.

    But then along comes late October/November, where you dont’ see the sun for a weeks at a time, and I start cycle starts again next summer.
    .-= Friar’s last post… Rejected Offerings =-.

    Karen Swim on February 15, 2010 at 8:01 am • Permalink

    Deb, having transplanted from West to East I can relate. There was nothing like a rainy night in California to make you feel warm and secure and sleep like a baby. I have come to appreciate the almost reverent silence the morning after a snowfall, the hush of quiet that begs you to move slower and soak in the quiet. I do miss my sunny days but am glad for the opportunity to experience life on the other coast and another perspective. Trade ya a snowball for a cup of raindrops :-)
    .-= Karen Swim’s last post… Has Your Fire Fizzled? =-.

    Keith Davis on February 17, 2010 at 12:39 pm • Permalink

    Hi Deb
    If you want to talk weather… come on over to the UK.
    With us it’s an art form.
    Is it raining? Will it be raining?
    And this winter… lots of snow and ice, which we haven’t got a clue how to deal with.
    The good thing is that it has allowed us to all have a good moan about the local authority doing such a poor job of keeping the roads open.
    The sad thing is… I wouldn’t have it any other way. LOL
    .-= Keith Davis’s last post… Practice, practice, practice… =-.

    Deb Dorchak on February 25, 2010 at 1:59 pm • Permalink

    @Keith: Just saw your comment stuck in pending! Oh, I’ve been to the UK. Spent 3 lovely months (February to April) in Bridgend, Wales. And you know what? I totally agree, I wouldn’t have it any other way either!