Playing In The Gutter

Last night it was raining pretty hard when I got off work. I've had a passion for the rain my whole life. I've never thought of it as scary. I love the dark clouds, the booming thunder, the crisp, clean smell. I know rain and rainstorms have caused millions of people heartache and loss, but it also brings life to plants, animals, and people. It helps new blossoms grow, washes away old dirt, gives dramatic people something to stare at when they're being sad and sitting in a window sill looking outside as the rain pours down and Everybody Hurts by REM plays on the radio in the background.

So it kept raining when I got home. Paul and Mads were in a deep slumber and as I layed there in bed I immediately had this vivid memory of when I was younger.

My neighborhood was a pretty great place to grow up. Everyone knew almost everyone else. There were a lot of kids to play with. You could go next door and borrow an egg or some sugar for your mom and no one would give it a second thought. Most families looked out for each other. Moms would call other moms if they saw their little ones being naughty. Some moms would even take it into their own hands and discipline your child for you - if someone did that now-a-days they'd be sued and sent to prison.

One thing about my street in particular that we had fun with during rainstorms was the gutters. Whenever it would rain really hard the gutters would fill to the brim with water. At the end of the street was this large cemented area where all the water would meet and make a pool. One of the funnest things I ever remember doing was taking off my shoes and splashing my little heart out in the gutter. I'd start at my house and SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH all the way down to the pooled area. Then the real stomping would begin, and usually end with us rolling around in the pool of water as we attempted to swim in it.

All I remember is the pure joy of it. No concern of germs or toxic chemicals. No worry that I would ruin my clothes or that my hair or make-up would get messed up. When was the last time you had PURE, uncomplicated joy over something as simple as a pool of water in the gutter? Life is more than stressful worries and work, work, work.

I won't be letting Mads play in the gutter. Every yard in our neighborhood has some type of chemical treatment on their lawn. There is garbage in the gutter occassionally. Pee. Poo. Who knows... it just isn't happening. I am going to try my best though to provide her with those moments of pure joy so she can look back and remember the perfect time of childhood, and we WILL be dancing in the rain.