Reasons to be Happy- Rain

As long as I can remember I've loved the rain.  Contrary to popular belief, it does rain in Southern California but as a kid it was even better when it poured.  I could hardly wait until I could go outside and get soaking wet.  Springtime brought the rain back then, and the old adage seemed to be true:  April showers bring May flowers.

There are many more reasons I love the rain now.  Having lived through severe droughts, rain still brings an almost automatic reflex of relief.  It is the one weather event that happens worldwide, so it can help you feel connected to the earth no matter where you are, much like seeing the moon or stars can do for you at night.  It represents sustaining life in so many ways. 

Living beings require water to live, even more than food, and rain is how we get all of our fresh water.  A shower can give a sense of cleansing, of washing away the grime of life, of washing away our sins.  It pours through the atmosphere, cooling and humidifying hot air, and clings to specks of pollution to literally condition the air around us.  It moisturizes your skin and cleanses plant leaves.  It adds moisture to farms' soil and the rivers it creates are dammed for hydroelectric power.

But the best thing I like about the rain is its sound.  If you've never fallen to sleep to the soothing pitter-patter of rain on the roof above you, you've really missed out.  Of course, there's really nothing like hearing a hard rain on a metal roof.  It can be deafening but awe-inspiring.

Ever notice how quickly the scenery greens up after a summer rain?

What I miss most about living in Kansas are the summer storms.  Though often severe, we haven't experienced anything even close to it since we moved away.  It always reminded me that without rain, there is no rainbow.

We received some great comments from friends, fans and followers.  Here are a few of those (although some have been edited or paraphrased):

Sharon M.-  I used to love the rain.  I grew up in Montana in what is more or less a semi-arid climate and I especially loved the summer thunderstorms.  Sound and fury and driving downpour, then the sun would come out and the world would look clean and fresh again.  Then I relocated from MT to KY, such beautiful pictures of horses grazing in green grass under the oak trees...  But I forgot to ask one question: how much rain does it take to keep the grass green?  The answer is, sometimes as much rain in one month as we got all year in Montana!  More than once I've sworn that if I stepped in mud deep enough to go over the top of my rubber farm boots, I'll pack up and go back to Montana where the ground FREEZES!

Jeanne W.-  Love the fresh smell of the air following a rainstorm and the sound of rain pelting the tin roofs that were common in South Texas back in the day.

Angela T.-  Here in Washington we have been getting record amount of rainfall.  I don't mind the normal occasional drizzle, but this is getting soggy.  I like some sun breaks between the rain.  It isn't too gloomy, just soggy.

Cathy R.-  The thing I love most about rain is right before it starts. When the humidity releases petrichor from the earth and rocks, and the scent of thanksgiving rises from the ground. It's like the voiceless whisper of gratitude for sustenance. Then the plops and splashes as the rain douses dry patches of land make such a pleasant sound.

Nadyne H.-  When I was a child, I was afraid of the dark and kidnappers!  When it was storming one night, my dad told me that kidnappers don't work in the rain...  I always felt safe when it rained after that!  I still do, even though I know that was ridiculous!  I love when we have thunder and lightening the best!  Storms fascinate me and always have.

Patty B.-  Rain washes everything clean and brings new life (April showers bring May flowers).  I always love the sound of rain.  It relaxes me and brings me peace.

Kathy S.-  Rain in the desert... it has a certain smell.  It's the creosote when its soaked -- there's nothing like it.  Also, just the sound of the rain is calming for me.

BLSMSS-  Rain makes me happy when it brings out the greenest of grass, beautiful flowers, the birds finding food and the fresh smell after. I love walking in it and, when I was younger, loved playing soccer in it.

Elsiesmom-  The sound It makes on the roof of my camper. If only the mud were gone instantly...

Patte M.-  When we had the old farmhouse (131 years old), it had a tin roof and the rain on the roof made it so easy to fall asleep, very soothing.

RicU-  Loving Spoonful sang about this

Tami and Barry “Cruising in Our Cabin”-  Rain makes me happy because it takes me back to my childhood at Grandma's house -- she always had the windows open.  At night with the windows open I could hear the patter of the rain hitting the tree leaves and grass.  Such a calming feeling that sound would give!  To this day I love my windows open on a rainy day.

Habadabeer-  I keep thinking of great music with a rain theme:  CCR, “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” - The Who, “Rain On Me” - Peter Gabriel, “Red Rain” - Prince, “Purple Rain” - The Carpenters, “Rainy Days And Mondays” - Eurythmics, “Here Comes The Rain Again” - CCR (again!), “Who’ll Stop The Rain” - Willie Nelson, “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” - Whitesnake, “Crying In The Rain” - Bob Dylan, “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” - James Taylor, “Fire And Rain” - Gene Kelly, “Singing In The Rain”... I’m sure there are many others, but I didn’t list “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”.  Its only redeeming grace is that it was in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”!  

Jojo H.-  I love the rain. The air smells so clean. The rain also motivates me to bake. Of course my hubby loves it.

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​My closing quote this week is from American poet Langston Hughes:  "Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions!  Another topic will be posted shortly.

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