Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away

I love this time of year.

In a recent discussion with a Pacific Northwest newbie, he commented that he was worried about the upcoming winter, having moved here from an abundantly sunny climate. "It's going to be months and months of clouds and grey and rain and YUCK. I don't know how I'm going to handle it."

Don't worry, I told him.

First of all, make sure you're taking your vitamin D supplements. I think vitamin D should be added to the water around here in the wintertime. We all could use a boost in the sunshine vitamin. Relax. It will be fine. Just light the fireplace, put your feet up, and grab a mug of cocoa.

But, gee. For someone like me, meaning a sjoggie, the Pacific Northwest is the perfect climate. Although I love the sunny summers, I have to be ultra vigilant about sunscreens and hats and not over-heating myself and blah blah blah blah blah..

But when fall rolls around, the temperatures drop, and we gradually see more fluffy grey clouds roll in and the rain starts to fall, my body says, yesssssssssss! I swear, with the first fall rain, I break out in a happy dance. In private, of course....... it's not an attractive Julia moment.

Fall and the cloudy and cool weather means that I can just pop out of the house without thinking. I can just grab the dogs and their leashes and head around the block without my dumb stupid hat. I put my rescue inhaler away because my asthma goes on hiatus as I breathe in cool, moist air. I don't have to spray or slather or otherwise apply sunscreen every single time I head outdoors.

When the rains begin in mid to late October, the air loads itself up with wonderful, refreshing, renewing moisture. And yes, all that moisture eventually falls from the skies, but I don't care. So what if all of my jackets have hoods? And I don't mind toting around an umbrella. It's a sjoggie HEAVEN around here in the fall.

C'mon October. Get here soon.

The Peanuts gang has a much better Happy Dance than I do. Enjoy.