A Little Rain Never Hurt Anyone

The saying goes, April Showers Bring May Flowers. If that stands true, then I should be seeing flowers blooming through the cracks in the sidewalks from the amount of rain I've been sloshing through over the past couple of weeks. "Rain rain go away" has been on repeat in my head lately, as this gloom and doom weather doesn't seem to let up.

There are two types of people when it comes to weather. Whether you "like watching the puddles gather rain" or whether you would prefer to "let the sunshine in." You can tell the difference between these people right from when they wake up. Do they see the dark clouds in the sky and instantaneously plop right back onto the pillow and wish for the day to be over already? Or do they smile a little, get ready like any other day and release the full smile when they get to put on their rain boots and go splashing around?

Me? I'm of the curl right back into bed category. There's something about the rain that makes me feel groggy, crave only soup for my meals and dread the inevitable and unbearable traffic (auto or pedestrian) since people can't seem to function properly in inclement weather. I just want to ask people "have you ever seen the rain?" because it sure doesn't seem like they have from the way they forget how to go about their daily routine.

A few weekends ago I got caught in a downpour on my way home. Fortunately I was only three blocks from my apartment, but that was three blocks of looming misery for the person who disdains the rain. Now, "if all the raindrops were lemondrops and gumdrops" or if it was "raining men" I wouldn't have minded so much. But of course, no such luck. So, I decided to make a break for it and "run between the raindrops" to try to get inside as quickly as possible. About a block into my run, I was soaking wet. I knew at that point, I was going to be drenched no matter what.

I couldn't remember the last time I got caught in the rain and I just had to laugh at the moment. I think the last time I spent time in a downpour was when I was a kid at camp. A few times when it rained really hard we would get in our bathing suits and play in the rain. We would "splish splash" and even bring shampoo outside to "shower." It was just pure fun.

Being reminded of those times when I actually wanted it to rain, I embraced my lack of "umbrella" and let myself enjoy the weather again. There was absolutely nothing I could do to keep dry, so as "raindrops [kept] falling on my head" I strolled for two blocks, "singing in the rain."

A Special Post for Some Special Fans

When I was home last month, some of my cousins, though not "identical cousins," who loyally and lovingly read all of my blog posts, asked for some shout-outs. So, today I'm going to "Scream and Shout" about the recent happenings of some of my crazy cousins and I.

I'll start with my cousin Samantha. She lives in my kind of town, "Chicago" is. Ok, so I've only been to Chicago once in high school, but she always talks about how great it is! Especially since she and her boyfriend Robbie got a little puppy, Albert. When I first heard that they named a dog Albert, I immediately thought, what the heck kind of a name for a dog is Albert? Then I found out that they named it after their alma mater's mascot, University of Florida's Albert the Alligator. Makes more sense. And then you see his sweet little face and you just think "how much is that doggie in the window" and you become gluttonous for the cuteness. Sami sends me pictures of Albert's versatility: Albert as Simba, with Robbie holding him up like at Pride Rock; Albert as a chameleon, blending into her North Face or the TV unit; Albert as a model, showing off his new bandana. His adorableness just makes you want to take him home with you. In fact, I wish I could take them both home with me since I rarely get to see Sami. The upside of that is it just makes the times that we do get to see each other much more special.

Next is Jessica. While I have resigned to the fact that unfortunately "Lecia" will never be in a song, her name really is in a song. You remember, "Mambo Number 5!" I loved it, she hated it. But for her birthday last week, Jess did something that she did love. Rather than read through the rudimentary, prosaic "happy birthday" or "happy bday" messages on Facebook that make people so jaded, Jess asked everyone to write "Memor[ies]," misty water-colored memories, of "The Way We Were" on her wall. Most were more fun than misty water-colored, but you get the idea. And I loved the idea; the request wasn't futile at all. Not only was it something unique, but it gave those of us who also experienced a memory that someone else posted a chance to reminisce with her. Sometimes you just need an excuse to look back on the good ol' days. Thanks, Jess; and happy birthday!

Last but not least is my cousin Kayla. She's the reason for my extravagant, and maybe exorbitant amount of vocabulary throughout this post. For the past month or so, I have been helping her prepare for her ACT. In addition to taking practice tests, we focused on expanding her vocabulary and because it's not her favorite thing to do, I made her a deal. I would use at least half of the words she practiced with me in this blog post. Guess what, Kayla? I did it! And so did you. You didn't give up until you got what's yours. Today was Kayla's ACT and she's done! I extoll her for her unyielding preparation, even when she didn't really want to work. You went the distance! Congrats!

Whether it's a new puppy, a birthday or a test, my cousins are always keeping me on my toes, and I love them for that. Miss you all; I hope you three enjoyed your post!