It Has Been Raining for Four Days

Today is the fourth day in our present rain event. On Friday night, after having dinner at my daughter's house and playing with the grandkids, on my way home - alone - in the dark - I took the wrong exit off of I-95. Instead of the New Hope exit I took the Newtown exit. I realized it as soon as I got into the exit lane, but it was raining so hard the water was sheeting off of the windshield wipers obscuring my vision to the left. To be safe, I got off at the exit thinking I could re-enter the highway quickly. I couldn't, and began the drive home through the back woods between Newtown and New Hope. As I approached New Hope, the town lived up to it's name; when I saw the flashing lights that indicated the road was ending and town was almost there I was really flooded with a renewed hope. A 30 minute ride turned into an hour and fifteen minute ride.

Saturday we ran between raindrops first meeting another couple for breakfast -then I went home while Paul spent the afternoon with our son. I tried reading, but the wind blowing at close to hurricane strengths and the rain blowing with it just kept coming at the house in waves. The deck furniture blew all over the deck, the closed umbrella was broken in two, the exhaust vent sounded like sheet metal at a rock concert - having done what I could to secure the house I went next door to look at new paint. We had dinner next door at Sue and Craig's, once again running, now in a downpour, between the houses. It was a very nice day - despite the weather.

Sunday was just as rainy not as windy. I did household chores and watched a movie, and Paul went to help someone take care of leaking windows. We met for lunch, and rather than going out in the evening decided to stay inside where it was warm and dry. The fireplace was going and we sat quietly doing what ever it was we did while a movie played in the background.

Pretty boring stuff - hey. It was a great weekend

Today is Monday and Paul and I were both back to work. It rained on and off all day, and the weather was wet, cold, dank and nasty. Again it was a good day. Tonight we went up to Flemington to get gas, and as long as we were in the area stopped at Shop-Rite to get a cabbage and corned beef for St. Patrick's day.

We loaded the grocery's into the car. Put the cart in the cart rack so it wouldn't fly all over the lot, and got in the car. When I got in the car, Paul already had the heat going, and when I sat down I felt so comfortable, secure and safe I just enjoyed the moment. It brought me back to the days over 40 years ago when we were dating and how my heart would skip a beat every time I got in the car to go someplace with Paul. I always knew it would be fun, and that when it was time to go home I wouldn't want the night to end. As we were leaving the parking lot, I asked him if he wanted to stop for toasted blueberry muffins and hot chocolate. He laughed and said that was what we would do when we were dating before he would take me home. As blueberry muffins and hot chocolate are not part of my diet especially at night any more, we laughed and headed home.

Believe it or not there is a point to all of these rainy day ramblings. These four days of rain (and I don't know how many more we will have before it ends) have been like a retreat for my soul. I spent a lot of time listening to the sounds around me - people, nature, buildings, cars, and decided that they all had something important to say. What they all said in different words, sounds and ways is that it is always good to slow down a bit; pay attention to what is really in your head - the good stuff - the important stuff - the stuff that is there after everything else is gone - the stuff that makes us the wonderful individuals that we are - and to Embrace it, Love it, Shout it so loud only you can hear it, and then do something little to help someone else find it also.