Miserable is the first adjective which comes to mind in describing today. The rain is constant, and the wind is strong enough to blow the bird feeders back and forth, even the heaviest, the squirrel buster feeder, is swaying. Gracie hasn’t been outside since last night. She never even bothered to stick her head out the door as the rain is loud enough for her to know it’s pouring. Just in case she needs to rush, I’ve left the back door open.

My den is dark. I had the light on earlier when I was reading the papers but I turned if off when I finished. I like the darkness and the sense of being surrounded by rain. Fern and Gracie are with me but both are asleep. Fern is on the back pillow of the couch and Gracie is stretch across it. Every now and then I hear Gracie sigh, but mostly I just hear the rain.

Even when I was a little kid, I loved the sound of the rain. I remember one vacation in Maine when we were all stuck inside on a rainy day. We played games and listened to the radio, but I could take all that closeness only so long so I grabbed my book and headed to the car. Lying on my stomach and reading, I was comfy and dry and could hear the rain on the metal roof and against the windows. I don’t remember how long I stayed there, but I do remember it was one of the best afternoons.

Summer rain is my favorite. When it gently falls, I sit outside on the deck under the umbrella and read. All around me is rain, but I stay dry, and I listen as the rain make its music. I hear it on the deck, and I hear it when it drips off the umbrella.