Opening the front door, a gust of chilly wind bursts through the entryway. Winter in July? Only in Seattle, I think to myself, almost chuckling at the absurdity. My hands dig deeper into my pockets, as if the deeper they went, the more chance they might have of finding a old pair of gloves. In the spirit of summer solstice, I decided to pack up my heavy winter clothes and accessories, hoping the act would somehow coax the mercury to make its way up the thermometer. Unfortunately, all it did was to leave me with my collection of too-thin sweaters. I’m not sure whose idea those were and what good they are even for. There are few things I dislike more than feeling cold and If it weren’t for the noise and chaos of visiting relatives in the house, I would much sooner cozy up on the couch with a hot cup of tea. But I must venture forth, or else risk finding myself giving pony rides to my 2 small nieces for the better part of the afternoon.
A light drizzle has now started and for a moment, I hesitate standing unmoving in the doorway, doubting the assertion I made to leave moments ago. The rain falls like a fine miserable mist. A drizzling, half-hearted rain shower; the kind that appears so innocuous and innocent, but I know this rain well. I know that my too-thin hoodie doesn’t stand a chance against this deceptive deluge. It is such a soaking, intrusive and impertinent kind of rain. Nature possesses a misleading kind of beauty, one that is unfazed and indifferent to the vulnerability we humans experience when at its mercy. Suddenly, a loud noise startles me from my doorway daydreams and reality, in the form of beach ball, hits me in the face, followed by half a dozen more bouncing down the stairs towards me, while a pair of laughing, rambunctious children bound down along with them. Indecision is trounced by my instinct to run before I am trapped and quickly I pull the hood of my sweater over my head, scurrying out the door. My escape is not quick enough and behind me a chorus of high-pitched beggings and pleadings for me to come play, rings in the distance. I cup my ears and give a puzzled look, faking that I can’t hear them, as I break into a half skip, half jog in an effort to discourage them from following me.
At last. Peace and quiet... but oh this dreadful rain! I pull my hood down lower, but the rain has conspired with the wind and together they surreptitiously encroach under and around the feeble shelter covering my face. The rain collects in the crevices of my hoodie and just above my ears forming pools, and then streams which trickle down into my eyes. Rivers of rain meandering through my eyelashes, transforming the ordinary world into blurring kaleidoscope perspectives. My sleeves are soaked, but reflexively I wipe the rain-tears away and clear my vision just in time to realize I have carelessly stepped into a dirty puddle on the sidewalk. My foot impacts and then immerses into the cold water before I am able to stop myself from stepping onto the camouflaged wet mine. Dirty water sprays upwards to my face, in a spectacular fountain burst and simultaneously permeates the canvas of my tennis shoes. Quickly, I pull my foot back, but the damage has been done. My shoe is sopping wet and I mutter a variety of profanities under my breath. The rest of the walk to my car must now be accompanied by the squishing sounds of soggy-foot-in-wet-shoe. With each step I feel slurps and hear squelches as the water sucks through the spaces between my toes.
The chilling wind, once again in cahoots with the rain, threatens to freeze my toes. As the wind speed picks up, I inturn pick up my own pace, hoping to outrun this mocking duo who seem hell bent on thwarting my mission. Like a war hero returning from a long battle, the sight of my car looming closer and closer with each step kindles a feeling of victory and triumph as a surge of energy enables me to sprint the last few yards to safety. Once inside, I kick off my soggy shoe and blast the heater, resting my foot on the dashboard to defrost my frozen toes.
Mission, to the car, accomplished!
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