Deafening

I have always had an affinity for the rain. As a child, I fondly remember lying on my camping bunk bed, listening to the roar of the rain inches above my tight quarters. It would lull me to sleep as it voraciously pounded on the roof of the camper. I could stare out my miniscule crank window but nothing would be visible; allowing my universe to shrink to this tiny cocoon. A safe, warm place.

I think my love of rain goes hand in hand with my affection for reading. I am convinced that reading during a thunderstorm makes the book exponentially better.

My love affair with the rain has entered a new arena. Consider the tin roof. It creates a wonderful melodic surface for the rain during any downpour. Within a few short seconds, it can easily becomes a deafening roar if the rain is picking up speed.

Even for the deepest of sleepers, it makes a person stir awake at 3 in the morning, as I am now. Eagerly awaiting my wonderful Sunday planned with a brunch of carrot cake pancakes and Kigali shopping to restock my grocery supply. I was already going to wake up at the unGodly hour of 5:30 am, but now here I am, typing away the rainstorm.

So if you haven't picked up on it already…DUST BE GONE. The dry season has officially seen its own demise. Last Sunday I went to church, and a miracle happened! It sprinkled water drops from the sky! It could barely be considered rain but after a three month drought, it was cause for celebration. A couple happy texts messages circulated amongst Peace Corps Volunteers, because, let's face it, what else do we have to talk about.

Yesterday evening, a mere 10 hours ago, the dark clouds were looming. I knew what they had in mind so I decided to not cook on my little kerosene stove out of doors…smart night for guacamole. It was a down pour. And I may or may not have been outside doing a happy rain dance to welcome it. The rain was intensely coming down. I welcomed the first thunderstorm of the season by having a jam session in my house. I usually try to keep my volume at a level that the East Lansing noise violation police would be proud of, since my walls are thin. But when the rain is roaring, I do too.

I am trying not to curse my tin roof at a time like this, love of the rain and all. But I am certainly grinding my jaw at it and trying to simmer down with some She & Him. I'm going to give sleep another go tonight. Sweet dreams everyone.