Don’t Complain About the Rain

All the good stories happen in the rain

It’s rainy season in Mexico, so we’ve had a number of evenings that look like the above. Unfortunately, since it is only for the couple of months over the summer — the infrastructure isn’t really in place to deal with it. Much like Brits in a heatwave, I suppose.

This meant that my second-hand Doc Martens, socks and trousers were thoroughly marinated in filthy rainwater. Despite that, I was sweating buckets in the subtropical climate that was the city Metro on the journey home — a 20 minute journey that took around double that, thanks to a long platform wait.

Despite all that, I was actually feeling quite perky by the time I got home. I’d read a little of S. M. Stirling’s The Protector’s War, listened to my unpopular-but-perky music and had a walk in the rain, knowing full well that I probably couldn’t get any wetter. Then I spent the evening warming up and drying off with kittens, Mexican food and tea.

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The truth is, I’ve kind of missed it. The rain is atmospheric. It changes the environment around you. It makes every gutter and pothole an obstacle to be overcome. There’s a camaraderie in being drenched along with hundreds of other people. And all the best clothes are winter clothes if you happen not to be a supermodel (I’m not).

I remember when I was living in Sheffield. If you know it at all, you know there’s a steep hill running down through the university towards the railway station. I remember walking down it in what I now consider ‘Mexican rain’. I was walking down under my raincoat, and a student was coming the other way. I knew she was a student, because she had opened up her portfolio bag and was holding it over her head like a shelter built in reverse. I couldn’t help it — I chuckled at the sight. She caught my eye and gave me a big, toothy ‘aw shucks’ grin. We shared that small moment, then we power-walked our separate ways, both feeling a little cheerier for the interaction.

I told someone recently that I really like sad songs — but I don’t add them to my playlists. Depression is easy; I don’t need the help. Equally, I’d tell you not to be annoyed about the rain — especially not if you’re on your way home. Home is where your towels, pets, tea, alcohol and/or loved ones are. The rain is a minor obstacle to reaching them. Get through it and you’ll be happy, warm and comfortable. Probably more so for the contrast.

You can see the good in any moment if you try. Listen to your music, hide under an umbrella, and look forward to the warmth and comfort of home, or the cup of coffee and soggy camaraderie at work. And it could be worse — you could be a Brit abroad in the sun…

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