How long has it been since you...

...walked in the rain? Intentionally, I mean.

When I was growing up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, especially as an angst-filled teen, I used to walk around in the rain A LOT. There was something so poetic about crying in the rain...and those warm, tropical summer showers were short enough that one could air dry before going home no matter how many puddles you splashed in along the way.

Earlier this week I was playing my new obsession game, Virtual Villagers 3, which features some "weather" type changes during game play...including rain showers. Since the game is set on a tropical island, the sound effects are in keeping with what I remember from Florida. So, being pre-menopausal and having my period for the first time in months...the sight and sound of the pretend rain had me weeping at my desk. (Aww.) And I vowed that the next time it rained...I was going to go out and walk in it...ON PURPOSE.

So today, it rained. And I threw on some clothes and ran outside to walk around in it. I stood behind my apartment building with my face and hands turned toward the sky and just got soaked. I stayed out for 10-15 minutes...I would have stayed out longer, but I live in the middle of the city and was in the back of an apartment building...so I started to feel a bit self-conscious... I don't think Hubby would have appreciated being called to come pick me up from the Funny Farm...

But...oh...I loved every second of it. (It would have been even better if I could have done it sans clothing, but you can't have everything.) Even though the rain here is colder than home (I was shivering once I got inside...I jumped into a hot shower to warm up) it was so nice to stand outside with the rain splashing down on my face and just...be.

I'm going to do it again soon...