'A rainy day in August is music upon our windows'

A rainy day in August soothes like a glass of iced tea on a sweltering day in the Pacific Northwest. It breaks the rhythm of summer heat, fanning us with a chill breeze and dimming the lights well into darkness.

A rainy day in August makes the world smell different – earthy and fertile. It invites us to walk barefoot on the grass and feel its softness against our souls. The ground absorbs rain the way pancakes absorb maple syrup, softening the ground, and giving life to plants and trees, rivers and oceans.

A rainy day in August is a distraction from the three-ring circus of American politics. It’s a break from twirling donkeys, trained elephants and a ringleader who can’t stop bowing.

A rainy day in August calms the nerves. Re-read first paragraph and change “iced tea” to “cold beer.” It relaxes us and reminds us that some problems actually can be resolved by naps or even good slumbers, allowing us more time to address the ones that can’t. Naps are like starting the day over, an opportunity to begin anew.

A rainy day in August is a time to reflect, ponder and think about life in abstract ways and from different perspectives. It encourages new ideas, creativity, perhaps understanding. It’s how we learn and grow and stumble upon realizations.

A rainy day in August is not nearly enough to discourage real Oregonians from jogging a couple miles or walking a real Oregon dog. It is, however, enough to remind us that we have yet to clean our gutters.

A rainy day in August is music upon our windows. A gentle mist is Bill Evans closing his eyes, leaning over the keyboard and drowning his thoughts in “Remembering the Rain.” A shower is Bob Marley’s steady verse, a downpour is Slipknot’s brooding metal.

A rainy day in August is like a sunny day in February, an unforeseen gift. The best presents are ones we don’t expect or have occasion to receive. On such days it is easier to smile, listen and forgive.

A rainy day in August raises the river, drop by drop, the way each good deed, no matter how small, makes the world a better place. It reduces life’s glare, so that we are less likely to be blinded by our reflections in the mirror.