raining sheets (Photo credit: mytimemachine)It's a cloudy day in L.A. The forecast is rain starting Friday night and lasting into Sunday morning. I don't mind. Here in Los Angeles rain is always welcomed. Overcast skies stir memories for me, though sunny skies certainly invoke thoughts of good days as well.
If I look at a cloudy day photo my typical reaction is that I'm looking at something cold, yet I know that a cloudy day is just as apt to be stifling hot as much as it might be bitter cold. Perhaps it's the memories of snowy winter days or days of chilling rains. Gray skies somehow seem dismal to many of us, but I have a fondness for cool cloudy days.
A cool cloudy day invites me to stay inside and do indoor things. My mind starts conjuring projects like cleaning closets or organizing books and CDs. I dream of the day in bed just catching up on reading or darkening the living room and watching movies--perhaps all three Lord of the Rings DVDs viewed consecutively or something like that. A day of nothing but relaxation sounds like a dream come true. A cloudy rainy day invites just that. The reality is that I probably won't do this.
When I was young and didn't have any real life supporting responsibilities to weigh me down, I could savor my cloudy days. I would spend time organizing my stamp collection, building models, or just playing. Somehow these activities felt immensely productive and meaningful and I suppose in a sense they were at the time. There might even be cloudy days when I would clean out my closet or dresser drawers. That especially felt like an accomplishment.
There were always books. I read voraciously rain or shine, but cloudy cold days were especially conducive to escaping in the written word. We didn't have videos or DVDs then; I watched movies on television. When the weather didn't invite me outdoors I might watch something on television if there was something worth watching. It seemed like I was never at a loss to find something to entertain my time.
Adulthood brought work responsibilities which sometimes meant going out into the cold gray of day whether I felt like it our not. Leisure took a different form for me and came in smaller doses. If I had an obligation I might have to face the rain and accept the cold. That's life and I don't have a problem with that, but can I ever recapture that feeling that tomorrow will take care of itself and for now nothing else really matters?
These days even though the days might be cloudy, it's difficult to keep my head in the clouds.
Hi Lee .. I used to love lying in bed (as a kid!) reading for hours and hours - the cat joined me, happy for the warmth and cuddle love! I remember hours reading in our playroom too - now I'd love a few weeks of that sort of life!!
ReplyDeleteCheers - it's cloudy here and a bit rainy - but I must out .. as I've past that tender age of childhood .. have a great weekend .. Hilary
Hi Lee! Don't say it's difficult to stay with your head in the clouds. We human beings have so much imagination but often don't use it because we're so occupied with our daily routines. I like reading books too. I've got so many books I may have to ask the Lord to give me an extra life or else I won't be able to finish them all - you know what I mean? You have a very nice day now :)
ReplyDeleteI'm 60 miles east of you and the rain is just arriving. My mind is saying "good day to write that memoir post for WrotebyRote." ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove the cloud pic
ReplyDeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteI too like rainy days. Unfortunately, I get to spend many of them at work. Love to do comfy stuff at home when it rains, like read a good book and snack like crazy.
I love to read or do something relaxing such as watching a movie when it rains.
ReplyDeleteDear Arlee, Being retired is a wonderful gift because--except for the two days I post on my blog--I can stay in bed as long as I want.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute, what about the cats? Oh, yes, they want me to be up at least by 8:30--if not two hours before that--to feed them their breakfast.
Ah well, being retired, I can nap in the afternoon!
Peace.
Yeah, we had the clouds today too, and a rainy day forecast tomorrow. I'm planning to stay in all day, except for a little walking in the rain to get some exercise.
ReplyDeleteI love cloudy/rainy days. They provide an excellent time to bake molasses cookies, for that was what we made on those days on the farm.
ReplyDeleteMy children have followed that tradition.
If you don't like molasses cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies will do nicely!
Aww, you make me nostalgic for when I was younger and in school, and had time to dawdle on cloudy days. Organizing my tapes and CDs, playing LEGO, tidying up my library and stopping to read or reread whatever struck my fancy... There seems to be no time for that any more...
ReplyDeleteinteresting post :)
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that now too many days have become lazy rainy days, regardless of the actual weather!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your comments. I seem to have a lot of lazy feeling days anymore. And I do like molasses cookies--haven't had them in ages though.
ReplyDeleteLee