I think there is something so beautiful and peaceful about waking up to the rain.
As I awoke this morning to warm rain on the balcony here in Florida, I was reminded of all the other places in the world where I experienced something similar.
I have been in Florida for a few weeks now staying with a friend while I move through a transition in my life. Being a Wisconsin native and having spent the last 15 years in Colorado, 80 degrees in November is a nice treat! I am staying on the 20th floor of a high rise with a beautiful balcony overlooking the ocean in one direction and the causeway in the other. The views are spectacular!
This morning I was awoken to the sound of the warm rain on the balcony. The sun was still shining over the ocean as it poured for about 20 minutes. It is very warm and humid here, I love it. The sky was multiple shades of grey as the mini storm passed over. What a treat to wake up that way. Then I started thinking about the other times in my life that the gift of rain stirred my slumber.
The most recent experience really isn’t so recent anymore. In January on my sailing experience in BVI there was one night that we left the hatch in the birth open for some fresh air.
Being rocked to sleep in a sailboat listening to the halyard clink against the mast is an amazing experience. Shortly after falling asleep we arose to gentle raindrops on our faces. In the middle of the night like that when it is so quiet out there is something special about rain. It’s as though nature is giving a gentle reminder of the simple beauties of life.
Another memory that came to mind, which was not so gentle on the approach, was a time in Costa Rica. My family owned a coffee and trout farm in the mountains of Costa Rica in a small town called Cachi. There is a main house and a guest house on the property, both of which are topped with tin roofs.
During the rainy season in Costa Rica, May through November, it rains religiously around 2 o’clock in the afternoon in the lowlands for about 2 hours and then the sun comes out again. In the mountains the rain is a bit more constant.
Well, it was rainy season in the mountains and the sound of heavy rain on a tin roof is enough to wake you straight up and keep you up. This kind of rain is loud and can be angry. Once up, however, it can be fascinating to listen to the different sounds of the rain getting heavier or lighter and when it lets up finally there is the sound of the drops falling off the trees. Again, this lends the feeling of experiencing something special and unique in nature. Especially on the farm when you know no one is around for miles.
Rain is a treat. What is your memory of waking up with the rain??
Em