Rain is so evocative. It's as though the skies can speak, or cry, or express anger in pounding storms.
Today was just a mundane rainy day, but I think everyone has some memories tucked away for, well, a rainy day. Here are some of mine. I'd love if you'd tell me yours!
"The Basement's Flooded--Again!"
Eventually, my Dad got a sump pump in Dumont. But when we were kids, it wasn't unusual to find us in the basement helping our Mom bail out the water that came in during heavy storms. It looked shallow, but took forever to get up off those black and white tiles. It was an unpleasant job.
Gray Cape Vacations
H. and I don't really care. We love to nap, and read. And rain is the perfect soundtrack for that. Plus, the Cape is all about sea mists and fisherman, so rainy seems appropriate [granted, we probably would not feel that way if we were paying to rent a house]. Rainy is picturesque on Cape Cod. Besides, H. has had skin cancer, and it runs in my family, so too much sun is the enemy. But for Figgy, we do want the sun to shine. There's only so much lounging and reading a young girl can do.
Tropical Storm Ernesto
A few Augusts ago, Figgy and I went down to Wildwood and spent a night or two with Moey and her family in their rental, right near the boardwalk. I was on the boardwalk with Figgy and L. and the wind really whipped in. We had to get back to the condo fast. Later, we waded through water up to our knees to get to a restaurant for dinner. But hey, you can't keep us New Jerseyans back from a good meal.
Montclair Rains
We had such bad rain the week of Figgy's spring break in 2007 that we cancelled our drive to the Cape. Our dryer was ruined, our hot water heater had to be replaced. But it was serendipity. Since we didn't go away, we were home to receive the call that a very special newborn baby was leaving the hospital and were we free to take her? Yes. Out of the rain came that tiny little bundle of plumpness and joy, in a lavender snuggie, who would live with us for 14 months--and leave us a bit softer and stronger forever.
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It's great the way you weave ordinary things like hair color and the weather into meaningful experiences. I am learning a lot from you, Alice.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda.....thank you...i love your blog also and wish I could list it here! i took a memoir-writing workshop last year at Fordham in NYC with a wonderful teacher named Elizabeth Stone and she gave our small group writing prompts, like "medicine chest" and then we would write what came to mind. It was really fun. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like it would be fun. Do you get a chance to attend these workshops often? I hope so. Alice, it's okay to list my blog. Thanks to you I am feeling a little more confident about it and we do have to always try to push out of our comfort zones. (Maybe I should try being a redhead. Oh wait, I sort of am a redhead. Does artificial count?) Seriously, I am flattered that you would even want to list it. You are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda......i did not know you were a redhead. wow! nice. i will be so happy to list your blog. love alice
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