Stephanie Croston

    I like rain.
     I especially like gentle showers that allow the water to soak slowly into the earth, bringing life to a dry and barren land.
     OK, so that's a bit melodramatic, but you know what I mean.
     I like rainy days, too. I like to stay home, curled up on the coach with a good book or in front of a good movie, with the gray skies providing a backdrop that allows me to focus more on what I'm doing.
     Rainy mornings make it harder to get out of bed, though. I find that on a gloomy morning, I tend to hit the snooze more and burrow back under my covers. It is, of course, easier to sleep when it's dark.
     I'm not a big fan of thunderstorms and violent weather, though. I've always been a little afraid of lightning. When I was little, I was convinced that the lightning bolts would find me, especially when I was in bed. So while the thunder and lightning raged, I covered myself completely with my pillow and covers.
     It didn't matter how hot the night was. Not a single piece of me could be outside the covers or the lightning would see it and attack. Sometimes, I'd lift the edge of my pillow for a draft of cool air, but other than that, I was protected.
     I have no idea where that fear came from. I was an imaginative child, so maybe I read or heard something that made me think the lightning was out to get me. Of course, this is the same child who knew cows were going to climb the stairs to her second-floor bedroom and eat her hair. Irrational, I know.
     Gentle soothing rain, though, is OK. Growing up in a small church filled with farmers, the weather was always a topic of conversation. We always knew if there had been too much rain or not enough rain, based on what the rest of the church was saying and giving for prayer requests.
     Some people find the rain to be depressing. I read a story once a long time ago about a girl who decided that she would try to make rainy days more cheerful for other people by being cheerful herself. She'd wear bright colors and smile at everyone, just to try to lift their spirits. Nice idea, don't you think?
     I think rainy days are a great opportunity. While you might not be able to be outside, you can spend time with your family indoors. You can color or play games or watch movies or tell stories or read together. You can build forts in the dining room and pirate ships in the living room and let your imagination run wild. And yes, parents, you can play, too.
     Or, if you're getting a little case of cabin fever, you can go outside and run around in the rain. Just think of it as a giant lawn sprinkler. You can make paper boats and watch them sail down the gutters. You can count the earthworms that cover your sidewalk and driveway. You can jump in puddles-why not? You're already wet. What difference will it make?
     You can go visit a neighbor who might not be able to get around very well and regale them with tales of your exploits on the high seas of your living room.
     When you stop to think about it, the possibilities of things to enjoy on a rainy day are endless.
     I like rain.