Did you ever see the movie 'Singing In the Rain"? Well, this was a modern, reality-check replay of the title-inspiring scene. Only seconds after our car reached the open highway, fat grey raindrops began pelting the windshield, first gently, and then angrily. The rubber wipers defenseless against the downpour, we prayed for safety and hoped for the best. Soon however, the onslaught subsided and we arrived at our destination unscathed and dry.
The location for the fireworks was the Village at Sandhills, which is like the center of a town with shops rather than apartment buildings, or an extensive outdoor shopping mall with streets and sidewalks in between stores. As we walked towards the shops, a huge droplet struck me right on the eye, and suddenly the previous deluge revived its frenzied dance. Clutching their dripping hair, the adults screeched and rain for the nearest awning, huddling together like a clump of bedraggled birds.
Why must we all grow up? I don't ever intend to. I kicked off my flip-flops, lifted my face to the grey skies and let the heavens shower me in its pure, clear tears. I danced through the rapidly collecting streams of water with abandon, and splashed through newly created puddles as joyfully as a child given a pair of rubber boots for the first time. Only barefoot is better. Much better.
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The car lights shining into the rain around the village seemed just another aspect of the beautiful scene, as did the frantic, caught-off-guard people running around with lawn chairs over their heads, the sitting-and-watching-fireworks equipment quickly converted to makeshift umbrellas. Evidently, the rain didn't end soon enough for the show to go on with, but we all clustered into the car, drove to a Waffle House, and sipped hot tea to restore warmth to our insides. :))) As we drove back home, small bursts of homemade pyrotechnic shows were enough to satisfy the inherent craving that always arises on this day of the year.
I want to remember this day for a long time. I never want to forget the valuable lesson of dancing in the rain, or the experience of being part of the rain, as others tried to separate themselves from it. I never want to forget the joy of living alive.
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Then, I went to bed and stayed there for a long time.
note: my writing style is evolving