I started the late afternoon with a little rain talk. For those unfamiliar, rain talk occurs in all spaces and places when a giant rain storm passes through and the folk there realize they have forgotten their umbrellas. On another magical (always) trip to the library, I came to the front stoop right inside the library only to realize I had no umbrella and a giant storm was passing through. So I waited, joined by other fellow conversationalists who realized they were not going anywhere either without their umbrellas. And so people began chatting, and I began listening and heard many interesting stories on that stoop mixed with the heavy patter of the rain just outside the world of books. 

Particularly with the weather patterns in Pittsburgh lately, it becomes so interesting to watch tiny storms break through, pass quickly and erupt into bluer skies and sun shine. By the time I had arrived home the storm had ended in a drizzle and then the sun began to pass through slowly. And while I was on a run after the rain, I noticed the number of folks walking without a purpose. Not without purpose but just allowing themselves to dawdle. And dawdling isn't something I usually see after a full work day. The number of dog walkers was also quite interesting. Around each block I found someone walking their dog through the puddles and the grass and the dripping trees. I saw no one on their phone. No one was wearing wireless earbuds, no one appeared to be texting and walking. People were actually looking up and around instead of down. 

Maybe after the rain you realize there is an urgency in getting outside to enjoy the window of sun. Maybe after the rain people find it soothing to walk around and see how the world has changed, enjoy the temperature with less humidity. Maybe after the rain, dogs are the driving force that bring working folks outside in their work clothes not caring about the puddles. Maybe after the rain, the stillness of the world creates a stillness in our shoes encouraging us to travel down slower paths. Maybe after the rain and the rain talk, we just need a moment to talk to the world in a different way, in our own heads, without phone interruptions or wireless buds. Maybe after the rain we are just a bit different than we were before and we want to try out that difference through the neighborhood. Maybe after the rain, subtle joy lifts our spirits.