Rain.

So. Monday morning, I woke up and began to get ready for my job as a lifeguard, which I've done most every day for the past few weeks. It's a fairly simple process. The windows in my room face east, though, and as I was searching for my swimsuit I noticed the light seemed different, as if it were cloudy outside. I peered through the blinds, saw some clouds, but the sun was still low and sort of shining through, so I attributed the odd sunlight to the fact that the sun hadn't risen fully.

As I walked to the kitchen, with a west facing window, I noticed it was actually quite cloudy and raining. This is somewhat abnormal for where I live in the summertime. Usually it starts out cheery and sunny, with clouds slowly building all day until the afternoon, when we are in serious danger of rain and the entire pool staff is usually watching some area of the sky suspiciously for lightning. So, intrigued, I turned on the weather channel. I wished I hadn't. The radar showed this huge green mass, slowly approaching. As I walked to my car alone (usually I go with Dustin, but he had been summoned for jury duty) I heard thunder in the distance, and ran back inside to get a change of clothes other than my swimsuit, since I was fairly certain that we wouldn't be swimming for a while.

Yesterday, the storm was circling central Florida, Deland in particular. I didn't even bother wearing my swimsuit to work. Or staying the entire day; my boss let me off early since we weren't actually lifeguarding and I'm not as talented at indoor activities with the residents as the other staff members. And Dustin was still at jury duty, since they chose him to be on the jury. Go figure.

Today, I check the radar. The storm seems to have significantly decreased in size. However, it is still circling one general area in central Florida, continuing to encompass Deland. Another rainy, cold day. With no chance of pool time. And even when the pool does open, it will be freezing.

I haven't seen the sun since Sunday... Ha. Sunday. But seriously, it's like back in the hurricane days of '05, when I hadn't realized that the sun has the ability to cheer someone up until I spent a few days with solid clouds. It was somewhat depressing, and I didn't even realize it until finally, after days, the sun broke through the clouds again and I saw exactly what I had been missing. The sun is a wonderful, beautiful part of life. Yes, the sun is part of life, it affects all of our lives daily in hundreds of ways.

People in Seattle (since they obviously read this): I have nothing less than the greatest respect for you.