New Umbrella

Rain, rain, go away...

Come again another day...

Little Johnny, little Johnny

Wants to play!

I bought an umbrella yesterday. Too late. I picked up the kids at school in the middle of a downpour, without an umbrella, or a hood on my raincoat. I tried to look dignified. I knew running between raindrops wouldn't help. So I just walked, at a regular pace, from my parking space on the street, up the driveway of the school, around to the back of the school, and in the door where I could wait for Janelle out of the rain. I walked the same slow walk back to the van with the kids, while they teased me about not putting up my non-existent hood. I even enjoyed it a little, not caring whether I got wet because there was nothing I could do about it. I got back into the van looking like a drowned rat, but I didn't run home and hide. I ran an errand. I bought an umbrella.

These pictures are two years old, but I thought I'd demonstate some of the pure joy that using an umbrella can bring.

There's nothing I can do about the rain, so I might as well enjoy it! As I've settled into the everyday routine of living in London, that is kind of my attitude toward life here. I will find some joy in the little things. This is where I live, and it's not going to change any time soon. I can't avoid the raindrops, so I might as well relish the walk through the rain.

It's still raining today. Not as hard, but I expect I'll have a chance to use my new umbrella when I pick up the kids again today. And tomorrow. By Saturday the sun is supposed to come out, but I'm ready for it any time now. This rain is stifling my creativity.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." Thanks, Heidi!