It’s raining here. I’m not sure what the weather will be like in a few weeks, but it’s been raining quite often this summer. I’m almost certain it’ll probably rain again when this publishes for my Freedom Friday post.
Rain makes me nostalgic. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think about the bad stuff that’s happened in the past. I think about how things used to be, what my life was like at particular points in time. I think everyone goes through these self-reflective moods where we ponder on the wins and losses, the births and deaths, the joy and pain. In some respect, there’s that temptation to want to go back to those times to do things over in an effort to fix that of which we made a mess.
I understand that. I do. I think it’s a natural process in our makeup as humans that as we age, the inevitable reality reveals itself that we’re only on this earth for a certain time and we should make the most of what we’re given.
Maybe that last part didn’t make much sense. I don’t know. Maybe I’m talking gibberish again.
When I look back, I measure my life’s journey by the movies I’ve watched, the music I’ve listened to, and the people I’ve met. Whenever I think of having watched Titanic in the theater in 1998, I remember how I had long hair, a bit of an attitude, and I wasn’t about to let anyone tell me what I will do, should do, or have to do. At the same time, I remember this magical time when a spotlight shined on Celtic music. Since my wife is from Nova Scotia, I felt rather proud too that it was Ireland’s time.
The little things also are what get me. I’ll be standing in line at the grocery store and an Eighties song would play in the background shooting me back to my teens when I had my whole life ahead of me with no cares in the world except maybe not having a date for Friday night and the homework assignment due on Monday.
What else was there? I’m certain it was not that acne blowout three minutes before going on stage for my student council acceptance speech.
During these summer months, I have a very strange ritual. It’s a strange ritual because I don’t think anyone else does this. Maybe they do, but I haven’t found anyone who does. If you’re one of those people, let me know. We can be strange together. When it rains, I walk outside in my bare feet and shorts, sit under the front canopy to my house and stretch my legs. I allow the water to pour on my feet. The more powerful the storm, the happier I get. And if lightening should crack in the sky, I’m in my element, grinning from ear to ear.
Didn’t I say it was a strange ritual? I’m not sure why something like a storm would bring such happiness. Maybe it goes with the nostalgia I feel in the rain.
Or maybe, I’m strange. Either way, I’m learning something new every day.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, on sale October 22.
Do you ever get nostalgic? What is it that you think about?
Looking to God 
I don’t do your rain ritual, but I love rainy weather. We get some dangerous weather in Tornado Alley, but I always welcome a good rain, maybe a bit of thunder and lightning. I feel like it’s nature’s way of cleaning herself, and you’re right – it’s the perfect time for reflection. I think about the good things and are thankful. I think about the bad things and am glad that I’ve passed them or that they will eventually pass. I enjoy the rhythmic pitter patter (or maybe downpour) of water. The next day, the grass is always greener and I feel refreshed, too.
I do love a good storm. I love staring out of the window holding a good cup of coffee in my hands and watching the rain pour and the sky light up. But we get so few in England. It’s mostly a constant and uninspiring drizzle of light rain. That said the last few weeks has been somewhat of a heatwave in England and it’s been great.
I am such a sucker for nostalgia. I’ve spoken with a few people about my chronic sentimentality and it never seems to ring through. You pegged it. Great read!
love the rain. without sounding too cliché, I’ve always found it to be very cleansing for the soul. on a another note, the more rain we get now, the more beautiful the autumn colors will be. just one more benefit to the rain. 🙂
The rain ignites my imagination. I remember old times and imagine new times, or leave this world altogether and build another. I don’t know why rain does this for me, but it definitely does. Sometimes I dance in it, sometimes I just sit on the front porch and listen to it, and I have even sat on the steps and let the rain pour over my feet! You’re either not as strange as you think, or we’re both incredibly strange.
Reading this post makes me want to go to Oregon. Beautiful green mountains, rocky coast, and lots of rain. I am a bit envious of your rainy summer. We’re beginning to dry up like worms on a sidewalk down here. Send some our way!
I’ll never forget the photo you posted of your run a month or two ago. You were soaked from top to bottom, and there you were, grinning like a kid who had just tasted a lollipop for the first time. If anyone had any doubts of your like/dislike of the rain, that photo says it all.
You are the first person I’ve met who’s ever admitted allowing the rain to soak their feet. So far, we’re both incredibly strange people.
I’ve never been to Oregon, although your description reminds me of where I live (less the mountains and the rocky coast). 😉 I’ll attempt to send you some rain. Err, uhm, forgive my naïveté, but how do I do that?
Very interesting post. Yes, I do become nostalgic, and I personally think almost everyone does at one point or another. I think of how the past has inevitably brought me to the place in time I am in now and what my future exploits may do to change my present surroundings like they have changed previously due to my actions, or lack thereof in some cases.
As for the occurrence with the rain, I have a similar yet alternate trend that I don’t always do, but quite enjoy…whenever it rains, I go out and I dance around, looking up at the sky with my arms spread out like a star. Of course I make sure not to wear my fancy clothes whilst I do this. Safe to say, I absolutely adore the rain, especially the sound it makes when it patters on my roof and windows at night; however I would like to note I don’t dance around whilst it’s raining at night – except for last year, but my excuse was that I was in the middle of the city rather than lying comfortably in my bed. Again, very interesting post!
I’ve danced in the rain as well. It’s not as uncommon as one might think. I had a friend who every rainstorm purposely went out in the middle of his backyard to dance. Neighbors thought he was a loon, but he was being a kid, and that’s all that mattered to him.
As long as we don’t dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, we’re okay!
Jack, hi! Thanks for visiting my post and liking “She Hurts No More.” Yours was pretty awesome as well! (Funny how rain can mean so many things to different people 😉
sounds like you and were both nostalgic when writing our post, today!
I love it when it rains. My plants in my yard grow more when it rains. Nice pictures.
Nostalgia for mean usually comes when I hear a tune or a phrase. Then I may be off to the good Old Days when the Lone Ranger and Tonto road around the same stone every week, even when they were suppose to be in a different town. You get a bag of potato chips for a nickel. Oh well, enough looking back for the moment. Thanks for stopping by and the like of my post “Berry Together”.
I love rain. Storms. A good, rousing hurricane… Sandstorms, too. I love ’em all.
Nostalgia comes to me most often when I think of my family. Or when I bury my toes in the ground and remember childhood times. Lately, I get a lot of nostalgic moments on Facebook when people have pictures from my hometowns from “back in the day.”
I love nostalgic moments and they often prompt good writing. 🙂
You are so right, Sandi. Storms are often great times of inspiration for me. I enjoy them when looking for ideas and thinking about the past for those ideas!
Thanks for liking my post! I enjoyed your piece as well 🙂
I only get nostalgic when I meet up with one of the lads I used to go to the football with when we were younger and we talk about the good times. Little hooligans going home and away; beer, songs, joy and heartbreak – I really miss it sometimes.
Danny, have you ever read John Grisham’s Bleachers? What you just described is the book. It’s about this former football star who goes back to this hometown to bury his old high school football coach. He meets up with his former classmates and they all reminisce about the good ol’ days.
I’ll have a look on Mrs B’s bookshelves because she’s a fan of his. To be honest, although I’ve seen a couple of film adaptations, I’ve never actually read anything by him. Thanks for the heads up.
Rain makes me nostalgic too. And I love to get my feet wet 🙂 Great post. I feel I can empathise with your words, I am increasingly conscious of being transported back by things, music, films, people. Is that what growing older means? I wonder how old you have to be before you can know nostalgia…