Fall

This is the first sign of a change of season. Summer's almost gone with the last glimpse of 37 degrees on Tuesday and a rain drenched Wednesday. It has been raining the whole damn day. The last time I experienced something like this was some years back. Back in the humid land I left.

I still remember looking forward to cloudy skies and foreboding dim weather. It brought a sense of renewal and rest. Particularly because when it rained, business was slow in the coffeeshop where I worked. I didn't care if the rain eroded profits, I just wanted to work as little as possible. That coffeeshop labour has probably contributed to a chronic sense of laziness and procrastination I am suffering from. And this is the kind of blame game I am talking about.

Now, rain is a luxury. A commodity that has the whole new nation under water conservation for a few years. Perhaps this freak weather is the payback of all the years of barren dry spells. Just a few months back, I was singing in my car "I wish it would rain on me now" - a song in the making, that was to express the utter desert experience I was going through. Now this prayer is answered with, no pun intended, torrential blessings.

I can hear the rain trickling down the sides of my wall like flash waterfalls through rain pipes and water holes. Times like these, the real test of a well built house is put to the chisel. Shawn's loft had the first instance of flooding. The tiny gap between the door and the bona-fide balcony was enough for the wind and rain to work some damage to the carpet. Well, damage is probably too harsh. The carpet around the door was soaked through. So was the area outside my room. I can't explain why, because the wet area wasn't near any door, window or opening exposed to the pelting rain. It's pretty obvious to me that there's probably some foundation cheap job that's given a pee hole of access for all that water to fill our dry carpets.

The smell will be a thing to behold in the morning - that is, when it starts drying. With humidity at 91% and rain persisting for yet another two days (yes it has been for 24 hours and counting), it will be a while before the stench starts taking over.

Rain periods are perfect for snoozing comfortably in a snug bed. Sleep has been a challenge for some time now. My head seems to find it difficult to sit in the sweet spot. I often wake with a stiff neck and an aching back. Can't wait for the futon to come back to me - that is, when EG moves out in lieu of the wedding promise to fulfil. But once I get to slumberland, which is a workout in itself, it takes me past waking hours to get up. This is a habit that has slipped comfortably between my sheets and my pillow. Don't quite like it, probably because it is not part of the status quo of all others, even in this household. Work on the weekends usually take me past bedtime, which is probably the excuse I give in to these jet lags. Or just lags, thank you very much.

It's 4.00am and I should better get to bed. All this sound of running water all around my room is unnerving. Let it be nothing but lull to a peaceful rest energizing me for the big week ahead.

cjt