As I write this, rain is pattering away on my windowpane. It creates a cozy environment indoors, but outside is a different story. When you have to walk to all of your classes, a rainy day can be your worst nightmare.
Earlier today, from my view inside of the dry and warm Denny's, I could see all different reactions to the downpour. There's the people who checked the forecast and were completely prepared. They had their boots, raincoats, and umbrellas, and walked along their merry way. I wonder if they laughed at those who are less fortunate. There's also the people were are lucky with their outfit. They must have be thanking their past selves for deciding to wear a hoodie that morning. Hoods are a blessing. There's the people who were completely caught off guard and sprinting to the safety of a building. And last of all there were the people who were getting soaked but walking at a normal pace and looking completely unaffected. Those people have my respect.
I have been all of these people. It really depends on the day.
If it's just a light rain, most of us act as if nothing is there. But there's always a few people who bring out their umbrellas, even though they remain relatively dry. I suppose it's always better to be safe than sorry.
There's people who ride their bikes in the rain and lose control. Rain makes things slippery. Sometimes people slip when they're traveling on foot as well. I try not to laugh.
Puddles litter the ground if the precipitation is great enough. If you aren't wearing your boots, walking becomes a game of dodging them in order to avoid wet feet for the day.
One good thing about when it rains is the smell and the temperature. Something about the smell of rain is just right. I'm sure there's some chemical explanation for it, but all I know is that the smell of wet earth is one of my favorite smells in the world. Rain is so refreshing. It cools things off. It makes the world clean. It's like a cold shower.
Rain is one thing and storms are another. It's humorous to see everyone walking outside flinch when they see that first bolt of lightening or hear that first crack of thunder. It's a flinch and then a quickening of pace. No one wants to be caught outside in a storm.
Though a rainstorm on a school day in college has its ups and downs, ultimately is makes me miss being able to watch it all day from inside my warm high school classroom.