Rain Heart

The first weekend back in NY it poured down rain. And by down, I mean horizontal, thanks to gale-force-winds. 

Usually I love the rain.  (A fact that has made growing up in a drought stricken country a rather trying experience.) In Australia if it rains, it’s beautiful - and I just drive everywhere. In New York, you walk everywhere, and you get wet. And your hair looks like crap. 

Having left my last umbrella on a boat in the Whitsundays less than a week ago I was reluctant to get another so soon. But after a damp trip to the laundromat, and the grocery store - that are literally across the street from Ada’s, I stopped at a pharmacy and got one... an expensive one - recommended by a customer.

“I’ve had this one for six months now,” she said patting it against her crinkled hands. Hmmm. Either she hadn’t left her apartment since September, or this umbrella had magical powers. I picked up a bright blue one instead of my usual black, trying desperately not to think about all the other expensive umbrellas I’d bought in the past year that I would never see again. This time would be different!

I was heading to the mac store to drool over alternatives to my dying laptop. I jumped on the subway, and started making notes about a crazy man who made a spectacle of himself last night. I’d barely finished my second paragraph, when the train stopped at my destination. So quick! I scrambled to close my book and put my pen in my bag, while grabbing my laptop bag and novel. Just as the door’s shut and the train sped away I realized what I had done. I felt around for my magical umbrella in my bag for much longer than was necessary, trying to stay in denial and praying for a miracle. Idiot! I thought. It was on the train. That was definitely a record. I walked up the stairs to a newsstand, and bought another one for five bucks.

Outside, the wind promptly turned it inside out, snapping three of it’s spokes and rendering it useless. No! I’m not giving up on you yet, damn it! I pleaded. I held it at right angles to my face. Yes! It made quiet a decent face shield.

The mac store entrance way is an enormous glass cube - which is particularly spectacular to stand in when it rains. Awesome. I will have to build one of these giant rain boxes into my imaginary future dream house. I pictured my self alone, wearing nothing but a Snuggie, watching the rain stream down the glass. Cant wait!

Just then a handsome male apple consultant offered to put my umbrella in a narrow bag. He had beautiful blue sparkly eyes, which smiled at me as I struggled to collapse it.

“Here, let me help” he said, also unable to budge it’s mangled spokes into submission.

“Would you like me just to throw it out?” he laughed.

“Yes please.” I said, smiling back.

He’d look good in a Snuggie.

Later, completely drenched, when buying my third umbrella for the day I pondered the convenience of droughts. Had I been taking our perfect Queensland weather for granted all these years? Or did I secretly like these weekly hurricanes that cost me money but gave some drama to my life.

I opened up my new shield then reached into a bucket of blue paint and slapped down half my face.

The answer was suddenly clear. I grinned up at the sky, did a pirouette and yelled "You can take my umbrella, Yorky, but you’ll never take my freedom!"