People in the rain

It is very interesting watching people in the rain. You learn a bit about society just waiting for a shower to wash the streets while people try to ge from one place to the other.

In a spotty light rain during commute times people run from their cars to the door and back. People on the bus go from one cover to the  other. People in cars splash people on the sidewalk. People who are used to walking every day have rain gear of some kind on their person. Umbrellas work for the door to the car trip, but not for getting anywhere when the wind blows.

In a heavy stormy rain people make other arrangements if they can. The bus is half empty of commuters. Some people just walk in the downpour, but not so much these days because of mobile phones and other electronics that cannot stand the first hint of moisture. I've walked from one place to the other in a bad storm and it is just not that big a deal if you are not cold, and have nothing on you that will die.

Hurricanes are interesting to be out in. I've only walked around to the back yard during a hurricane so I do not have extensive knowledge. There was someone else across the street doing pretty much the same thing I was doing which was taking care of something that had blown down.

Mud is to be ignored on long hauls and deal with after the fact when traveling by foot in the rain. That is the rule I've had for some time. I've noticed others with the same rule. If you do not do it this way, you will hit some impasse that you cannot get around without great stress.In a storm, you must avoid any extra stress because things could turn bad very quickly and possibly without notice.

Rising water can be deadly. People get rightly nerves when the water starts coming up. Even if you can swim, there are many layers of treachery below the water line waiting for hapless victims to wonder their way. In this part of the world you might run in to an open manhole, snakes, running water dragging your over debris, floating colonies of displeased ants, electrical shocks, submerged fences. The list is endless. It really is best to find a high dry spot and wait if you have the opportunity.

it is better when people feel like something is a disaster because they are far more willing to help one another. You are more likely to get a ride when a hurricane is coming than if it is just raining. I guess that is always true.

This morning it looked and sounded bad for the longest time. There was barely a drop until after lunch time. People were in a mode where you could tell people knew something was about to happen. It didn't for the longest time. The skies looked like the end of the world had fallen. Then, people waited for the other shoe. No one was on edge that I could tell. Just a static electricity feeling in the air.

Then it rained.

Then, it kept raining. It is due to rain through tomorrow. It is going to be a rainy night. I used to know a girl named Stormy Night. It was so dark outside the evening lights came on before 15:00.

People travel in their cars, splashing through puddles, waving off water from their windshields. People run, walk, stumble from dry spot to dry spot. No one is dancing and singing.

The rain hits the windows on our floor and people start wandering how they will get home, and how bad the traffic will be. People have alternate plans for commuting and getting things done when it rains like this. Most of them just want to get home in one piece. Once there they will huddle and watch TV.

I have a friend saw a tin roof on a small building and said he wanted to sleep in there while it was raining. No sleep as deep as under a tin roof in the rain. I really want to try that. I've had the opportunity of sleeping in the rain in a forest in a tent. That was really cool because the tent didn't make much noise, leaving me to hear the echoing drops hitting every leaf in the trees for as far as the ear could hear. It was like hearing in the third dimension for the first time in my life. I slept like a rock.