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COLUMN: Enjoying the best spring rain

The very best memories were when spring was on the horizon and the rain starting its descent
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(Black Press Media file)

The other day I watched a little one jumping up and down. The puddle was there, rubber boots on and the rain was lightly falling.

There was no worrying or concern of any kind, just pure joy in what the rain offered that day.

As I watched, memories of my own childhood came flooding back. I always considered myself fortunate with the childhood that I had. I grew up in the country with acres and acres of land to explore, imagine and play amongst.

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But the very best memories were when spring was on the horizon, the snow quickly melting, and the rain starting its descent. This would be the time of year filled with true discovery and adventure.

We had a large pond in the back yard and, as I said, 40 acres of woods and low-lying brush land that filled itself with water like a never-ending bog.

We would come home from school, put on our grubbiest clothes and boots and as we ducked and hid, crawled through the water or ran and jumped around, the rain made our water world an absolute reality. The best time that we could ever have because of all the spectacular rain.

As my memories flowed back and I continued to watch the little boy in his glory, I was transfixed in time noticing little else. But then it started to pour, and as I was brought back into my adult mind I began to notice all the other “grown-ups” walking around with more scowls than smiles.

Why is that I thought? What about growing up changes us so much, taking us farther away from our childhood freedom? I am sure it is the stress we experience, the pressures on our day to day. We get busier, faster and the decisions we make become more serious.

The rain gets us wet, wrecks our hair and clothes, makes our errands trickier, even creates extra mess in our cars and homes that we then have to clean up, I guess in essence it just make things a bit harder.

But if we can take a minute to slow down, breathe and enjoy it for what it is, the rain may have a chance to calm, center or revive our day.

It washes things clean, flows life into the earth, refreshes and brings smiles to those who take it all in. At the library we have a wonderful book simply called Rain, by Sam Usher, the perfect story for a beautiful rainy day.

My challenge to all is the next time you see the clouds start to form, put on your coat, grab your boots, go out and play and enjoy the rainy day.

Carly Tanasichuk is an assistant community librarian at the Summerland branch of the Okanagan Regional Library who is letting her inner child learn to love the rain again.

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