It’s Raining This Afternoon
There is a gentle rain falling. In the distance, I can hear the rumble of thunder. The month of April was relatively dry. Now that it’s May, some rain is falling. I’m glad it’s not a storm. I have been seeing reports on the news of tornadoes and heavy winds that have torn apart homes and other buildings. Storms can be very destructive. Heavy rains can cause floods.
The sun is well-shielded behind a thick layer of clouds. I was outside earlier this morning looking at flowers in the front yard. The air was warm and humid, and the first little drops of rain were beginning to fall. The air smelled like rain. Now, it is darker and the sky hangs heavy over the horizon. I like the gentle rain. Plants need water to grow. I’m listening to a shower now, coursing over the roof. It’s very comforting to be inside on a rainy day.
I’ve spent some time this morning reading about different tropical islands. It rains a lot in the tropics, unless of course you live in the desert. Nothing much grows in the desert. Cactus and other succulent plants that can store water for a long time might survive with months with no rain. What the deserts have is sunlight. The desert is a perfect place to build a solar power station. You would not be able to use the land for farming. You would not want to live in a harsh, hot, dry environment. You could put up a trillion dollars worth of solar cells and make electricity like it’s nobody’s business. It might take a hundred years to pay back the investment, but after that the power is basically free and endless. Of course, there would be some maintenance.
Right now, I do not live in the desert. I live in Michigan and it’s raining. Soon, I will have to plow and disc the garden and plant things. Right now there is still a danger of frost, so it is not growing season yet. The rain is for the flowers and the lawn, which is beginning to grow. A rainy day is the perfect day to sit inside and read and write. I have some coffee and my computer, and need nothing else to fill my day. The rain outside is nothing but gentle music in the background. When the wind blows, the windchimes play their random music. Maybe someday I will make some more chimes and sell them. Maybe someday I will make some money. For today, sitting here writing and listening to the rain is enough.
