Rainy Day Writing: Gratitude

Sometimes the sound of the rain pelting the roof at night feels like an assault.

Watching it slosh off the roof edge and into the gutters all day is cause for more frustration.

Where are the sunny days? Or even the sun-breaks?–those moments of reprieve that turn the lawn into a glittering green shag carpet and paint the skies with shimmering rainbows, like promises.

Another good day to stay indoors and try not to fidget too much.

Checking in on the Mt Rainier web cams is a study in black and white. The mountain is invisible behind its curtain of clouds. The snow is a soggy blanket clinging to everything but the black pavement. It’s a colorless and cheerless sight.

The perfectly plowed roads and parking lots at Paradise remain deserted. No one wants to climb those hills and risk those switchback roads today, only to be greeted by heavy wet snow, bitter winds and still more rain.

I know how Charlie Brown felt every time he threw his head back and yelled:

AAARRRGGGHHH!

So it’s a good day to take stock of blessings. The things that make me comfortable on days like today:

A warm home with fresh white walls and trim.

A newly painted and organized kitchen pantry, full of food.

A silly love story of a novel set in the Cinque Terre, a great place to dream about on a day like this.

Thick flannel sheets straight from the dryer and fluffy pillows to lay my head on.

You tube tunes that comfort, distract and drown out the rain tones.

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This evening I will crawl between those dry, clean sheets on a comfortable bed under a sturdy roof and be exceedingly grateful for the blessings of this home, this husband, this life.

Later on, when the door hinges squeak as Cosmo noses his way into the room, at his leisure, like he always does,  and takes his place on the rug at the foot of the bed, I’ll grin, like I always do, and snuggle down deeper into this life, with even more gratitude.

It’s a good life. The rain reminds me of that. So I’ll take it for now.

That won’t stop me from hoping for things:

A little sunshine.

A break in the weather.

A good meal, a dry place to sleep, and a reprieve from the struggle for those who are out in the rain tonight.

©2018 by Ilona Elliott

The Author (on the right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• Posted in: Inspiration ♦ Uncategorized
• Tagged: Dogs, gratitude, Mt. Rainier National Park, Rain