Is it just me, or does it feel like it has been raining in Golden for weeks?
That may be a slight exaggeration, but only slight. Every morning seems to arrive with the same grey sky, the same damp streets, the same clouds hanging low over the mountains as if they have settled in and signed a lease.
And yes, I know we need the rain. I really do. After dry summers, smoky skies, and wildfire seasons that put everyone a little on edge, rain is not something to complain about too loudly. The forests need it. The gardens need it. The rivers and creeks need it (although by now they’ve definitely had their fair share). The dust certainly needed it.
But still. Sheesh.
There is only so much a person can take before they start eyeing the sky suspiciously and wondering if the sun has forgotten our address.
The funny thing is, I actually love a rainy day. One rainy day can feel like a gift. It gives you permission to slow down in a way that sunshine never does. A beautiful sunny day comes with expectations. You should be outside. You should be going for a walk. You should be weeding something, washing something, hiking somewhere, or making the most of it.
Rain asks much less of us.
Rain says: put on the coffee. Stay in your slippers a little longer. Find the good blanket. Pick up the book you keep meaning to read. Let the laundry wait. Let the yard wait. Let the world be a little quieter.
There is something deeply satisfying about curling up on the couch while rain taps against the windows. A good book, a hot cup of coffee, maybe a bowl of soup later in the day, and suddenly bad weather starts to feel less like an inconvenience and more like a small luxury.
Of course, when rainy days start stacking up one after another, the charm does wear a little thin. Even the coziest among us eventually want to see a patch of blue sky and feel the sun on our face.
But maybe that is the lesson in a long stretch of rain. It reminds us to appreciate the bright days when they come, and to find something worthwhile in the grey ones too.
So until the sun returns, I’ll be over here with my coffee, my book, and only a mild amount of grumbling.
