Rain.

Yep! It's raining!

Rain is neat. I like rain. Many people like the rain, but this is my blog, so you're going to listen to me go on about rain for a bit. Got a problem with that?! Yea... that's what I thought...

Anyway, rain is a cleaning of the world, which approximately 4,534,643,642 people have noted before me. It clears out the air, but I suppose what I really like is the smell of ozone that goes along with the thunder. There have only been a few instances when I wish the lightening and thunder weren't there, and most of there were when I was outside in a field, holding a 20' flag pole (long story...). Other than that, I'm a big fan of the lightening.

I view rain in a few different ways, as I'm sure a lot of people do, even if they aren't aware of it. When you're laying in bed listening to it rain outside, sitting at work listening to the downpour bludgeoning the roof, or if you're in the car, where the sound could be so loud you don't hear anything else but the water from above.

This first picture reminds me of forest rain, or nature rain. Heavy rain when there is a lot plants, forest, or general foliage around, and the smell of the plants and soil permeates the air with the constant pounding of the water from the sky. I sometimes think I smell that odor when I am in certain wet areas, like mountain valleys that don't get a lot of sunlight. I associate that smell with the cabin in Tennessee, and the state park nearby. All of the rivers and waterfalls give that wet forest smell, although it lacks the nasty moistness that comes from a dreary rain.

Another view of rain I have is from the viewpoint of the soakin' wet pedestrian caught unawares. To be completely drenched, with no hope of preventing further wetting, and I just accept the fact that 1) I am very wet and 2) That condition can only get worse, and it probably will do just that.

When you've accepted certain conditions, you can look at it differently. If you are prepared to get nasty and muddy when working in the yard (or whatever), when it happens it's not as big a deal as if you slipped and fell in a puddle on the way to work or class. The same things happens in the rain. You accept the rain and it covering you, so you can see and hear the rained on environment more clearly, or at least in a different way. You can see and hear how the drops hit the yards, asphalt, or concrete, and smell how each of them differ. You can feel the drops bouncing off of the ground back up to you, which in itself reminds me of sitting down in the shower (a pretty unique experience in itself, yah?). You can feel the heat still coming off of the ground, and the steam that forms when the colder rain hits home, just as you can feel a chill set in when the ground's heat is lost, followed quickly by shivering of your own.

This type of rain experience usually occurs by mistake, such as when I'm waiting for someone to pick me up, and it starts to get cold and rainy. Waiting to leave or go is something I've had to do way too much of, and such circumstances I have somewhat grown accustomed to, unfortunately. However, that has helped me to appreciate such things as getting caught in the run with shelter being a good 45-minute walk away.

The usual view I think most people (and myself) enjoy rain from is from the comfort of the indoors. Hearing the rain on the windows and the roar of the water on the roof (preferably a tin roof), with the thunder shaking the walls and making you question whether you are indeed safe in that particular place. The patter of the rain easily lulls you to sleep, and brings images of bed, pillows, and blankets. Even if you don't sleep, it seems to fit right for a nice storm.

You can see the water trailing down the glass, and feel the cold permeating the window if you hold your hand up to it. Paths of water form in the yards and streets, and every now and again you may see an earthworm or a piece of litter float by.