Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
Yesterday it rained. Last night it poured. I was at the Cape Playhouse to see Kiss Me Kate when the heavy rain started. It pelted the roof so loudly I saw most of the people in front of me look up as if they were expecting to see drops falling. After what seemed like a long time, the heavy rains were finally quiet. By the time the play was over, the ground had absorbed most of it.
This morning we still have rain, small intermittent drops of rain. Condensation is on the outside of my windows from the AC interacting with the humidity. It’s what I call the glasses effect. When I leave the cold car, my glasses fog over and I can’t see. I stop and wipe them before I bump into someone or something. It always amuses me a bit.
In the summer, my mother was reluctant at first but after a while was only too happy to let us out of the house when it rained. When we were stuck inside, boredom settled in quickly then the fights started, the he called me this and she called me that sort of fight. My mother always yelled for us to stop, and that worked for a few minutes but then back we’d go to sniping at each other. We’d ask if we could go outside, and she usually agreed. With us gone, peace was restored in the house.
We’d put leaves or paper boats in the gutters and watch them float down the street. We’d whip branches and soak each other. Sometimes we’d take our bikes and ride as fast as we could through puddles so the spray would fly into the air on each side of the bike. We got soaked.
When we’d go back into the house, my mother would make us take off our sneakers then she’d send us upstairs to change into dry clothes. Our feet were usually so wet we always left footprints on the wood floor. I always liked that part.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: condensation, getting soaked, humidity, rain, steamed glasses
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August 11, 2012 at 1:08 pm
I remember rain, I just haven’t seen any in a long time. 🙂
It’s amazing how similar your childhood experiences and mine are growing up in the nineteen fifties. My sister and I would fight like cats and dogs when we were bored, especially on bad weather days, and my mother would send us outside to play in the rain in spite of her fears that we would become ill. My mother thought that illness came from getting over heated or chilled. She would yell at us to put on a jacket or shoes because we would catch our death of cold. Many of her crazy ideas come directly from her mother who was raised at the end of the nineteenth century. I think Louis Pasteur discovered germs during my grandmother’s childhood. She believed in such things as feed a cold and starve a fever. I can’t remember all of her nonsensical ideas to stay healthy.
When I was single and much younger I came down with the flu during another hot August. I called the only physician I knew who was also a friend, my ophthalmologist. I described my symptoms to him over the phone, He then proscribed the only available remedy in those pre anti viral drug times, which was rest, drink plenty of water and eat home made chicken soup. When I asked him about the soup, he replied that his internal medicine professor had analyzed home made chicken soup and found that it contained enzymes, electrolytes and other ingredients that defend against viruses. He told me that many old grandmother tales actually work or else they would have been left on the trash pile of history. Regardless of the science, the chicken soup makes you feel better.
August 11, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Bob,
We were complaining we hadn’t had rain in a couple of weeks which is so very shortsighted given how horrendous your summer has been.
Totally similar! It was my brother with whom I fought, and we drove my mother crazy, but she wasn’t a you’ll get ill if you play in the rain type. My mother too nagged us about a jacket in the cold, but for that she was right. We’d have frozen without hats or mittens if she didn’t insist. Yup, my mother said the same thing about colds and fever. I once looked it up and found out the fever parts dates to 1574.
I once read an article which said chicken soup was more than good for the soul-it is a bit of a remedy, and you’re right, the hot soup makes you feel better.
August 11, 2012 at 3:06 pm
And wait until you see the Men’s 5,000 m final…oh my, THE athlete of the Game
August 11, 2012 at 3:43 pm
My DearHedley,
I just found it on-line and watched it. He was magnificent at the end as he broke away from the crowd! One medal for each of his soon to be born twins.
August 11, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Mo was totally brilliant, what a race
August 11, 2012 at 3:41 pm
For once no rain here but it was only 41 degrees here this morning, a bit to early for those kind of temperatures but I did enjoy it. It was absolutely quiet and neither flies nor mosquitoes were flying around disturbing us 🙂
I was so much (and still is 🙂 ) so much younger than my siblings so we usually never had any fights and as I remember it My mother never argued if I wanted to go outside to play in the rain. We had just the same games as You had 🙂
I always say I don’t like musicals, except for Singing in the rain. But today I remembered I do like at least one more, Sweeney Todd. I think it is the macabre story in itself that I like and the music is just a plus 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
August 11, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Christer,
Yikes, too cold too soon in the year for me! I wouldn’t mind the cold at night for sleeping.
My brother andI are a year apart; my sisters and I are 5 and 7 years apart so I didn’t do much with them growing up. It was my brother and I who fought.
I am not a fan of musicals but live theater makes them more palatable.
August 11, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Hi Kat,
I was out in the downpour yesterday. Taking pictures. Rain on lily pads is lovely even if I’m getting drenched.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meotzi/7755576352/in/photostream
My mother didn’t keep us inside when it rained. We put on our slickers, fake sou’wester rain hats and the galumphing boots with big metal fold over buckles that we didn’t buckle and out the door we went. There was a puddle in the dirt road at the end of the street. We would jump in it, ride our bikes through it, throw sticks and stones into it and play with the mud. At home, the wet, muddy clothing would be peeled off in the back hall and put outside to dry and be hosed off later on. We would be hosed off, too. 🙂
I’m not sure I can see mothers letting their kids do that today. The kids would, if left to their own devices, but they aren’t usually anymore. If they did get to play in a mudhole, it would probably have to be one constructed by an approved mudhole contractor. It would be filled with safety mud and it would have to provide proper disposible mudhole clothes and shower facilities. Ooo, I may have something here. 😀
I mowed some of the lawn with my spiffy cordless electric mower. The neighbor mowed some of the lawn, too, because he wanted to try out my spiffy cordless electric mower. I left the biggest part of the lawn for the lawn guy whenever he decides to show up. :/
Enjoy the day!
August 11, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Hi Caryn,
Love the pictures and downpour is about right. I couldn’t believe the rain in the picture with the trees. The lily pads are lovely. I haven’t seen any in a long time so I especially enjoyed seeing them.
We didn’t have rain gear and we had only winter snow boots. I think my mother had an umbrella but no self-respecting kid would use one. I would have loved a mud puddle!
I’m chuckling at your description of a mud hole for today’s kids. I think you’re right on!
Kids today don’t walk let alone walk in the rain. They are missing one of the best parts of being a kid!
I was just looking out my front door thinking my grass is a bit high. They usually mow on Saturdays but I haven’t seen them today, and it’s getting late.
August 11, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Tom Brokaw at 8 and then Mo in prime time
Heck we may even get Kat Bush tomorrow night
August 11, 2012 at 8:49 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I’ve been watching Tom-wonderful!!! I watched Mo on line and will see him on the big screen tonight.
Kate Bush? I hadn’t heard!!
August 11, 2012 at 11:42 pm
The Tom Brokaw story was great. Churchill was probably the greatest Prime Minister in history.
My favorite story about WWII and our cooperation with the British occurred when British Field Marshal Montgomery thought that he should have been the Supreme Allied Commander instead of Eisenhower. Monte gave Ike fits over everything about the way Ike was conducting the war effort. Ike was so frustrated that he turned to General George Marshall one time and said, Get Patton over here and have him shoot the son of a bitch. Sometimes our differences are more than just our common language.
August 12, 2012 at 9:46 am
Bob,
I’m chuckling at that story. I knew there was some knew Monty was a bit petulant about it but this is the first time I’ve heard this story.
Thanks!
August 12, 2012 at 11:12 am
Kat, if you like this sort of stuff! You should try Antony Beevor’s D Day which accurately describes what was going on between Monty and Ike over Epsom
Meanwhile brin on Kate tonight
August 12, 2012 at 12:39 pm
MDH,
I do like this stuff, and I’m a sucker for WWII movies. I just watched The Longest Day for about the tenth time.
Thanks for the recommendation!!