Simple Pleasures Are the Best
{Originally published on PENSIEVE}
I did something yesterday I hadn’t done in a long, long time.
It was quite by accident, I wouldn’t have planned it, and in fact, had I known what I was getting into, I would’ve done whatever I could to avoid it.
Under cotton ball-dotted blue skies during the afternoon rush, I walked into the grocery store. A full shopping cart and an empty pocketbook later, I walked out 
into unexpected gray and gloom; not just rain mind you, but furious pregnant drops defying gravity with a sideways pour.
The parking lot had been crowded when I arrived, forcing me to park at the far end. “It’s better for me, anyway” I remember thinking.
There were no two ways about it, I was going to get wet.
Person after person in the same boat as I made a run for it; it’s funny to watch someone make an umbrella out of a bag of dogfood. It’s also entertaining to watch people dancing and dodging to avoid the inevitable–this was a deluge, THEY WERE GOING TO GET WET!
I considered going back inside to buy an umbrella to add to my ever-growing car collection. Though I’m hardly made of sugar and in no danger of melting, I had actually put on make up and fixed my hair, and I knew in seconds the effort would be gone with the rain.
But then Natasha Bedingfield started humming in my ear–
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
– and I decided to take her advice literally.
At first quickly, then intentionally slowing, I made my way to my car.
As odd as it sounds, I invited the rain. There’s a huge difference between getting drenched because you have no choice and consciously choosing to get soaked. I turned my face cloud-ward and smiled, thrilled with the splash that was most certainly painting rivers of black down my cheeks (confirmed with a rearview mirror check).
I looked like a crazy fool, but I couldn’t care less. This, my friends, was a celebration of soul, a liberation of spirit!
A progression of childhood memories flooded my mind as I neared my car–playing in the rain with my best friend Kimberly (mud pies always to follow), hovering in our basement while tornadoes rampaged our city right after my 
fourth-grade birthday party, my own children donning their swimsuits and–armed with Simba and Mickey umbrellas–discovering the joy of summer rain. I can still see Rachel’s exuberant face, mouth open and tongue extended, satisfying her thirst for more than just water. For life!
And, so I drove home, face now mascaraed instead of lashes, hair glued to my head in poodley straggles, and in dire need of dry clothes…
…musing that indeed, parking at the far end of the lot was better for me.
Editor’s Pick by Megan from Velveteen Mind: How often do we let moments like these slip by because we are in a rush to do something completely forgettable? I love posts like Robin’s because they remind us to slow down and enjoy life.
Simple, eloquent, unforgettable, PENSIEVE is a rewarding blog to which you should be subscribed. Check out the comments on the original post and see how Robin’s experience affected her readers, then share your own willingness to slow down the next time the opportunity presents itself.
Editor
Megan Jordan
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September 10th, 2008
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Category:
Author- Pensieve, Channel- Personal, Editor- Megan Velveteen Mind, Inspiration, Introspection, Self-Awareness, Nature, Outdoors, Personal, Tuesday 1
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Loved this post when I first read it at Pensieve and I was so glad to see it again. You have a rare ability to bring readers right into the middle of your captured moments. Thanks for inviting us into the rain with you.
AMAZING post…and from an incredible writer. This is what LIFE is about. Too bad so many of us fail to live while we’re alive. Great work. Thanks for posting this.
Stephen, I would LOVE to think someone…ANYONE…would be motivated to ENJOY “rainy day moments” after reading, ya know? Instead of wishing them away. Thanks for reading “here” and “there”.
Lew, thanks for your thoughts here. You’re spot on–so many of us (me included at times) are “dead men walkin’”. I’d rather seize the moment :). In this case, I did.
And for my friends who read this post at PENSIEVE the first time I wrote it, I FOUND the pictures I wanted to add of my kids playing in the rain (years ago) and have uploaded them just in time for this reposting. Come visit if you have time!
Beautiful! I ran into a similar deluge a few weeks ago, and all I could think was, “MY SUEDE PURSE!” Next time I’ll embrace it. Well, as long as I’m not carrying my suede purse anyway.
Wow, great post. I think my heart even smiled.
I love this post! I love the language–the pregnant drops of rain.
Robin, next time, I’ll come dance in the rain with you!
MFS, I think you get a “get out of jail free” pass when carrying suede ;). Pleather, no…suede, yes!
FBG, well, now…heart smiles are about the best. Thanks :).
Heather, I KNOW you’re the type friend who would do that very thing! And in the process? Make it OH, so much more fun!!