About forty-five minutes ago, I decided to walk to the mini mall north of my house, which I’ve never walked to because the actual mall is just south and it seems closer. It was raining a little, but I took a sweater. I got to the top of the street, and it got a little heavier. Went around the corner, debated going into the corner store to wait for it to clear up, but decided against and kept going. Went another block, it got really heavy. Few more feet, heavier still. Finally, I stopped under a tree, which was better - until the wind picked up. For about five minutes I stood, trapped, under this tree, laughing at myself in this ridiculous position. A man stopped and asked if I wanted a drive, but I declined, figuring it would stop soon and I’d just keep going. I was almost halfway there. I waited and waited. People were looking out their windows at the rain, and I laughed and laughed at myself. Suddenly, I looked around and saw a woman from the house across the street running towards me - with an umbrella. Aww! How sweet. She ran back inside with a parting, “I hope it helps!” I’d like to bring the umbrella back with a thank you note and something fun tied to it and leave it on the porch.

So, I started walking with this umbrella. The rain got heavier still, and my pants were starting to sag and my toes were wet. The wind kept driving the rain into my back. It wasn’t exactly cold, but neither was it cosy. I found another tree, this one with bushes. I snuggled under the tree on the lee side of the bushes, with the rain bouncing off my samaritan’s umbrella, and just laughed and watched the road flood before my eyes.

Finally, it eased up slightly. I debated continuing on, but I was so wet and uncomfortable now, I just turned back home. By the time I got home, I was walking on the bottoms of my jeans which were too wet to pull up, and there was water running down my asscheeks into my socks. I still couldn’t stop smiling.

I came in and peeled off my sopping clothes and popped them into the dryer. That was about 20 minutes ago. And now? The sun is out and the sky is blue. I think I’ll go try it again.