Shabbos in the rain!!!!!

As a p.s. to my last post, I'll tell you about my shabbos, and how I danced in the rain. It was AWESOME! Me and a friend went to botanical gardens, right near the museum of art on Eastern Parkway. We got in for free when she politely asked, 'it's my sabbath and I can't pay, so can we just go in?' And the guy said, ya sure go ahead.

It was pretty empty (perhaps the reason he let us in) because it was rainy. Do not mistake rainy with raining, as you can see, they are spelled differently, and have different meanings. Rainy is when it has rained, it is wet, and might possibly rain again soon. Raining... I hope you all know that one.

We visited the rose gardens, walked around, saw a wedding in progress, spied on the bride while she took pictures, visited the gift shop (yes I know, not so shabbosdik. Don't worry, I didn't buy anything. ) Enjoyed the not-so-sunny day out. And then it started raining. Rain, rain, glorious rain, oh how I love thee.

We stood under a tree trying not to get drenched. Laugh of all laughs, we got wet anyway. I'll save you the trouble of trying it- no, trees don't offer much protection from rain. It seeps through the gaps in the leaves.... down on our unsuspecting (or suspecting but can't do much about it) heads.

Along came a nice security guard, to tell us they were locking up and our presence was no longer welcome. Then he kindly offered us a ride, to which I very regretfully had to turn down. 'Thank you so much, but it's our Sabbath, we can't ride in a car.' Sad to disappoint him. But he told us he wasn't allowed to offer us a ride anyway, against the rules. Which made me feel all the more grateful, and regretful that I couldn't take it. He apologized, drove off, then reversed, to offer us an umbrella. I laughingly told him that it wasn't allowed either. He said Shalom, and drove away.

We were offered a second ride from a guy in a golf cart, who's seats were all wet. But we were wet anyway... Again I had to turn him down. So sad, since I love seeing people doing favors out of the goodness of their hearts. But you know, G-d, Sabbath, that kind of over rules.

I said, hey, we are getting wet anyway, standing under this here tree, so we might as well run for it. So we ran. And ran. And the rain poured down, and my wellies (British for rain boots) sloshed through the puddles, keeping my feet dry. (Thanks sis for lending them.) Making me very happy that I decided to wear them, though I think they are dorky, and not stylish. But in this case, my sandals would have done nothing for my feet, so wellies it was.

We got soaking wet, my hair was plastered to my face, jacket cold and making me shiver, but I loved it. I loved the rain, I loved the stormy clouds, I loved the freedom I felt, running, dancing, singing in the rain. (OK I didn't sing, but wish I had. Maybe next time.) Enjoying it. Soaking it up (literally and figuratively.) I felt refreshed, like a car after a good car wash, or the ground after a good rainfall. (Oh come on, like you could think of a better comparison to rain, then rain itself.)

So as much as those little kids sing, 'rain rain go away', and 'Mr. sun, sun, Mr. golden sun,' I will forever love the rain. It is my faithful friend, I can always count on it to be out when I'm in a bad mood, or really in the need of a storm. So don't go away. Stay for a while.

But promise me one thing: on my wedding day, please be sunny.