October 20, 2007

I’ve enjoyed the soft, steady rain that has soaked our area the last two days. Yesterday morning, for instance, I did my usual brisk walking in a continuous shower, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I recall the refreshing feel of the cool rain on my face (it was a somewhat warm morning) as I strode up and down the steep street near my apartment. In the gutters beside the sidewalk, the water was flashing past me like a small stream, and I took pleasure in watching the ripples gleam in the light from the street lamps as I walked along. I did the same walk this morning, in a lighter rain, and again appreciated the fresh feel of the rain on my shirt. I also appreciated the rain that fell all day at school yesterday, mostly because I think it made my lessons a bit easier for the students to take. After all, there is something soothing about the sound of showers on bushes and grass, and perhaps it helped my teaching be a little less wearisome for the kids. Perhaps the drumming of raindrops outside provided a restful musical background for our study of less-than-inspirational English topics. I do know this: the mild music of the rain made a marvelous sleep-inducing environment last night. I drifted quietly off to paradise around 9:30 while listening to a fine and slow drizzle of melodies outside my window.