Oregon Rain

While a bit strange, I have to admit that of all the reasons why I love Oregon, the fact that it rains so much is actually up there at the top of the list. While the Oregon coast and valley may not be the best place for people that have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), the rain actually tends to make me happy. The rain brings a sense of renewal and freshness that can get dulled by numerous sunny days in a row. And as most Oregonians can attest to, we tend to grow accostumed to the rain to such a degree, that we can still continue to do regular activities that most people would stop doing with the onslaught of a few drops. However rainy weather also lends perfectly to plenty of memorable indoor moments. And while polar fleece may not be the most fashionable, we tend to wear it as an additional water proof coating, as umbrellas are rarely seen among native Oregonians. Rain is just our way of life.

So imagine my good fortune when last evening upon crawling into bed, I heard the initial rain drops land upon the roof. The gentle drops were an instant lullaby that lulled me into sleep. The drizzle has continued throughout today which has lended perfectly to an afternoon to finish the novel I started on Friday (Jane Eyre) with a cup of tea and my big fuzzy slippers. The few drops that landed on my clothing this morning while walking into and out of church dried quickly, but it felt great to turn my face to the rain and feel the mist upon my skin and the smell refresh my mind.

We've had an unusual summer weather pattern on the coast this year (as many regions of the world could also claim the same), so we have not had as much drizzly rain or high winds throughout this summer. It's been nice to have an actual summer here, but just lately I had begun to recognize slight changes that mean that fall is encroaching upon the last days of summer. And now the rain is a remembrance of the renewal of the changing of the seasons. While September tends to be beautiful in Oreogn, I have to wonder if it will have its usual pattern this year. Fall in the valley is one of my favorite times of year however, and so I feel most fortunate to be going back to experience its change firsthand.

So bring on the rain, its renewal, its cleansing, its greening, its comfort......rain will always be home to me.