Friday, June 5, 2009

When you Wish

Earlier in the week, as I stood on the perpetually sunny porch saying goodbye to a piano student, I said to the mom, "I wish it would rain." Not understanding how anyone could wish for anything but the perfectly sunny warm-but-not-hot weather we were having, she questioned me. "Really?"

"I love rainy days," I said. "Ooooh, and especially thunderstorms." She didn't seem to share my sentiment, but didn't begrudge me mine. I told her about the wonderful Arizona monsoon season, the only virtue of Arizona summers, as far as I'm concerned. I looked forward to it all year long, maybe a transferred hope from previously wished-for white Christmases. Every afternoon for several weeks, beginning in late July or August, the dark clouds roll in, the sun is blackened, and the thunder begins. Magnificent shows of lightning. And then torrential downpours of rain. It's wonderful. It's bake cookie, read a book, watch a movie, open all the doors and windows, go out and dance in the rain kind of wonderful. I lived with that joy for seven years in the Phoenix valley, and another seven in the White Mountains of northern Arizona (where, frankly, the monsoon is even cozier!).

Southern California has lots and lots of virtues. But I miss the rain. I miss the thunder.

And then, just one day--well, not even a full 24 hours--after I made that wish to my piano mom on the sunny front porch of my home, what happened?

That's right, baby. Clouds. Dark ones. Taunting me with their heaviness and thickness. Will it? Won't it? It almost didn't matter. When there's so many sunny days, even a cloudy day is a nice break from routine. (How I miss real seasons, can you tell?)

But it did! It rained! And then? Thunder!

I listened to the weatherman on the radio while I waited for Lyndsay after school. "Weird Weather," they called it. Over and over again. "Unheard of, Weird Weather for June."

I just smile and say "Thank you!" Sometimes even the littlest answered prayers make such a difference.

Now we're in our third day of "Weird Weather". Rain. Clouds. Even thunder. Apparently dangerous thunder, because several people were killed and injured by our first day of Weirdness, and for that, I am deeply saddened.

But. The earth needs rain! And Jenna did too.

This morning while Conor practiced his "l's" and "oy's" I sat in the car in the rain. I read a book, and every now and then I just stopped to listen to it falling on the metal roof, on the windshield, on the ground. Feeling so satisfied, so relieved, so content.

And I almost wondered, 'what else should I wish for?'

9 comments:

amber watt said...

I know how you feel. I am grateful for the sunshine here but oh how I miss the rain.

Sarah said...

Dear Jenna,

I simply adore you! Can you make a wish or 2 for us?

Love your (Arizona) sil,

Sarah

isshou ni said...

ditto

Luisa Perkins said...

What did you decide to do for Lyns's party? And are you feeling better? Are finals over?

So many questions....

YogaNana said...

I SO hear you about the monsoons! That's the only thing about Arizona that I miss. (Note: "thing." Not people -- I miss a bunch of people!)

Wonder Woman said...

I coulhave written this post. Not as beautifully, but with the same sentiment. Kansas doesn't have a monsoon season, just a tornado season. And lots and lots of thunderstorms. The few times that it rains in Utah, I open all the windows and grab a book. I've even been known to sit on the front porch with a blanket just to read and smell the rain.

Tristi Pinkston said...

You should wish for lots of money for Tristi! That would be an awesome wish. :)

Julie Wright said...

I am a huge fan of rain, thunder, lightning and coziness. Love this

family said...

You should come visit us in winter. I NEVER heard it thunder when it snowed but it does that here in winter. Crazy wierd! BTW, what kind of party did you do - will you do for Lyns?