Let the Rain Kiss You

I'm loving the sound of the late night rain. Sometimes I'm tempted to be tired of the rain, but it really is beautiful and I might as well let it kiss me since it's here! So, I go out running in it, and tomorrow I'm going for a hike with a friend, rain or no, and I throw open my window each night to listen to the drips and songs of a wet night.

I spent this evening with Mary and some other dear Larsons. Mary and I went for a walk on a trail near her house (in the woods, beautiful with spring green and little spring blossoms) and then made dinner at her house together with Sally. While we worked, Sally was composing a grocery list to text to her mother. Mary and Sally competently went through pantry and fridge, thought of what they would need for their upcoming road trip, and sent a list off to their mother. I smiled as I mused on my mother's carefully planned biweekly shopping trips -- she and Aunt Shar are sisters, friends, and keepers of lovely homes, but with very different methods as housewives! We made delicious black bean and chicken soup, which we enjoyed in style with candles, a pitcher of lemon water, and condiments in coordinating serving bowls. Then we played Speed Scrabble, drank Bengal Spice tea, and ate Theo's mint chocolate. We also laughed a lot, and told stories of our days, and shared our plans for the future. Mary is working as a nanny this summer, and I'm about to begin a job working with children too, so we compared notes. Luke arrived home from a sailing trip while we were arranging words with our Scrabble tiles ("hale" and "available" and "jaunty bovine"). We chatted with him while he ate dinner at the bar and unpacked from his trip. Then Uncle Bill and Aunt Shar returned home; they joined the quiet bustle and there was much puttering going on about the house and garage. Us four girls gathered in the bay nook and chatted for a bit; Mary was looking droopy, so we sent her to bed to rest up for her early and busy day of nannying tomorrow. I lingered with Aunt Shar and then said my goodbyes. Luke walked through the rain with me to load Mom's crockpot into my car (Aunt Shar had borrowed it). I like being family with these folks.

Last night I was looking for something in my Box (of old school papers, letters, and much more) and found a letter I had written to Aunt Shar on a page from a tablet of paper she had designed for me.

"Dear Anut Shar," said my seven-year-old self.
"I must say that I like this paper. This is the first time I've used it, I forgot all about it.
I think your a great Anut. What is going on down there? Is it still snowing?
The signs of spring are slolwy coming. Birds, flowers, showers + spring grass.
We will always be friends. Won't we?
Love in Christ, Julie"

Yes, I think we will.