For some, that's depressing. They chant, 'rain, rain go away'. But not for me. I get excited. I go to the window and watch the falling raindrops. Are they big or small? I look up to see if I can catch that flash lighting up the sky.
The first rains of a year are usually the summer rains around April. That's also the time to get intoxicated in petrichor, the pleasant smell of water falling on dry and warm earth.
Then there is the southwest monsoon. In those days, June 1 was when the the monsoon hit state. And that was and still is the first day of the academic year. So it was always a challenge to keep the school uniform from getting wet and dirty. Nowadays, mostly monsoon is a few days late.
Then, we have the retreating monsoon, or the northeast monsoon, somewhere to the end of the year.
I don't mind getting wet in the rain. That happens, while riding a motorbike. If it rains, and I am heading home, I won't take out the raincoat. After all, I am going home, and I can afford to have my dress wet.
Many pleasant memories of playing in the rain during childhood. We all looked for one excuse to be in the rain. Parents then got wild, warning us we will get fever. But that never mattered, for it was fun and frolic in the rain. We made plenty of paper boats and let them sail.
Those days, we always had acute water shortage. So, when it rained, there was some relief that there will be water at home Because, we used to tie a bed sheet to two parallel ropes, and collect rainwater. This is besides the water collected from eaves.
It's so sad that in spite of so much rain, we are on the verge of running short of water. It seems the next war would be fought over water. There is something called rainwater harvesting. I just wonder why it's still not the norm. May be we are waiting for our taps to actually run dry.
(This post is a part of the "Blogging from A to Z Challenge April 2018.")
All the joys of the monsoon and the onset of rains is described so well ... espcially the floating of paper boats. Those days when there were no smartphones. We were much smarter people then.
ReplyDeleteWould love it if you could check out my #AtoZchallenge post on R. Even I've talked about rain.
https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/rainy-days-in-oceangreen-kannur/
Thanks a lot, Seema, for dropping by, and for your comment. I shall check your entry.
DeleteI love puddle jumping after a good rain. However, these drizzly days I've been experiencing lately don't sound much like what you're describing. I look forward to warmer, wetter days. Melanie's Stories
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melanie, for dropping by and for your comment. I shall check out your blog.
DeleteThen you will love Seattle. I am here temporarily until July. Seattle has an average of 152 rainy days in a year. But it feels like it rains every day.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound interesting, SG. I haven't been to Seattle, yet.
DeleteOh how I loved this post about rain. We are experiencing one of the worst droughts in history in our area with Day Zero, when the taps run dry, in the near future. R is for Retirement"
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirley, for dropping by and for your comment.
DeleteIndeed, we have been hearing about the impending Day Zero. By the way, the city I live in in India, Bengaluru, too is also among the world cities where taps face the danger of running dry.
I hope things are getting better at your end, and those dire predictions don't come true.
You know when it comes to rain I am so much like you. Totally love it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shesha.
DeleteA lovely post ! For me rain means a cleansing of body, soul and the surroundings..it means dreams, hopes and a certain kind of freedom.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this lovely post with us :-)
Thanks, Renu, for visiting my blog and for your comment. :-)
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