I was rushing thru the pedestrian amongst a throng of people when the clouds without warning opened up and poured its burden upon us! Rain! Just my luck! Within seconds I was soaking wet and shivering to the bones. The wind was thrashing the trees and garbage was flying all over. The used to be dry streets were flooded in minutes. I ran the rest of the way and reached the other side of the street without much mishap until I looked down at my feet and found them submerged in dark murky gushing water. I looked around and found to my dismay that there wasn’t any dry land! The canopies at the sidewalks were packed with people seeking shelter from the onslaught of rain. With determination, I just had to move on.
I was on my way to meet with a supplier for a wedding I was handling. But as I passed by a glass window of a parked car, I was shocked to see my appearance! My jeans and shirt were plastered to my shivering body. I had goose bumps all over me because of the cold; I was staring straight at a raccoon eyed Indian, for the water smeared my mascara all over my face; but my hair was the ultimate description of messy, for my long curly locks were plastered to my head making me look like a wet poodle! No wonder the people I come across with shake their heads at me in pity. I could just imagine what were on their minds. What would my supplier think when she sees me now?
I found a sheltered door of an office and decided to duck out of the rain. I decided I’d ride a cab the rest of the way. My files and documents were safely tucked inside a waterproof envelop so I wasn’t worried. Its being late to an appointment that makes me upset. The rain wasn’t dwindling at all in fact it was coming down in sheets not raindrops! How could I have missed this? I should just have brought my trusted umbrella and I wouldn’t have been in this predicament. But who would have guessed the weather would turn 360 degrees in just a wink of an eye. It was sizzling hot that early afternoon when I left the house. Geeez, I was even wearing my sunglasses! I looked from left to right, across the street and at the corner, but there wasn’t a cab on sight. One or two passed by but their occupied signs were flashing on. I rummaged thru my bag for my cell phone and looked at the time. Darn! I’m late! I dialed my supplier’s number and when she answered, I was shouting at the phone to be heard through the pouring rain and I was straining my ears to hear her as well. Heck! She was stranded somewhere as well because of the rain. So looking at both our situations, we decided to reschedule our meeting another day. Sigh! That went well, but what about me here right now? I thought.
A cab went by but didn’t see me waving. I was standing less than a meter from the rushing river that used to be a street. But from where I was sheltered, a passing cab couldn’t see me at all. I had to move forward, but I wasn’t wearing my trusted boots for times like these. Instead on my feet were my dainty pink strappy sandals…
Be brave Sofia! I said to myself. A shoe is just a shoe. So I inched forward and closed my eyes as I could feel the rain pound on my head and the street water swirl up halfway between my ankles and my knees.. in my mind, I was thinking… Sof, remember to soak your feet in warm water with lots of disinfectant and antibacterial soap when you get home! Then without warning SPLASH!!!!!!! It was like I was hit by a big wave! And when I looked down at my shirt, the white was now tinged with black and brown muddy water! A big pick up truck just drove pass me without consideration of anyone on the sidewalk! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! I clamped my teeth so hard in anger I was afraid I’d break them! The s@#?!@*>#$!!!!! I waved my fist at the vanishing truck cursing under my breath when out of nowhere the glistening white paint of a cab appeared in front of me! I must have been immobilized and dumbstruck at my sudden luck that the driver opened a window and asked if I would ride or not. Ehh oooh… of course! I scrambled clumsily inside. Dripping wet and making puddles on the leather seat (thankfully it was leather) and on the cab floor. The driver turned to look at me and his back seat and floor and jokingly said, “eh Ms, I hope you don’t flood the inside of my cab..” ngeh I was afraid I was going to do exactly just that….
The driver turned off the air conditioner and for that I was eternally grateful. We were traversing thru the streets and from the safe and comfortable confines of the cab I looked out the window and saw so many people with different reactions to the rain. There were those I saw who looked just the way I must have looked in the rain just a few hours ago; some were just standing under the canopies of buildings not moving an inch, just to keep themselves dry and warm; those who were in their cars must have felt the way I was feeling now, safe and comfortable; but what fascinated me were the children and a few grown ups who were thrashing in the flooded streets like as if they were playing at sea! They were running around, making paper boats, splashing, diving and doing back floats! Wow! Amazing! At first you’d think these people are really into something dangerous! Can you imagine the bacteria these waters hold! But if you look closely at their faces you’d find the radiance of sheer happiness and joy! You could almost hear their hearty laughter as you look at the way their faces light up in pure delight!
How different people react to the rain. To most, the rain is a nuisance, an unwelcome presence in our daily lives especially when you find yourself stuck in flooded streets; wet to the bones with your clothes sticking like second skin and your hair plastered to your face; when the roof leaks and drips water inside the house; when the canals overflow and waste and garbage are floating all over; when the kids get sick due to bacterial infection brought about by such weather conditions; when transportation is scarce and you’re going somewhere; when flooded water flows inside the house; when the rain brings with it wind, thunder and lightning, things get even worse.
But the rain also brings delight to others. It gives them a chance to stay home and read a book, share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend, or just simply to cuddle and snuggle with someone dear. To some, the rain gives them the time to think and meditate on life’s many adventures from the past, present and future; a time to reminisce and recall, blissful or poignant moments. Others become nostalgic; still there are those who believe that the rain is always a blessing from heaven. To those kids playing under the rain on the streets, the rain is a time to grab the chance to enjoy and be happy and just maybe for an instance forget their personal miseries and frustrations in life.
I love the rain. It may make things inconvenient and uncomfortable to the point of difficult… but no matter i still love it!
What is rain to you?
