The Rain and my Dinosaur Umbrella

A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." John Stuart Mill

As I stepped out of the building, rain was pouring hard from the dark sky and emerald avenue was barely visible to my poor eyesight. I breathe out a deep sigh of retreat. I calmly kept myself from turning back inside the building despite the strong impulse to ride its elevator and punch the 7th button -- run back to my office--to my cluttered desk and hug my PC. I wish I have stayed longer with “Bumble-bee” and accepted her invitation to grab a snack and exchange office blues but I wanted to get home early.

My hubby called in sick today so I lost my privilege of being picked-up for a free ride home on a rainy Tuesday. He is a workaholic. I smiled at recalling his quip about working hard to keep me and our 2 kids chubbily-healthy. At that instant I visualized him with our 2 babies huddled in bed watching Cars or Nemo or Shrek. I felt envious that I wished to be teleported home immediately.

Perfect! I had my new flats on. It’s not that pricey but I just don’t want them soaking wet this early. Poor thing for now they will have to endure both my weight and the rain and my foolishness as well.

Standing in the building’s entrance, I was caught between the cold rain and the temporary shade provided by the facade. I needed to make a quick decision and I resolved to walk through the heavy downpour with only a dinosaur umbrella. I felt the chilly wind biting my skin piercing through my clothes. Much price to pay for rushing in the morning to get to the office, I have forgotten my coat again. I wanted to scold myself but too late I was halfway to the sidewalk with hasty strides.

I look back and saw this lonely young woman sitting under this big cafe umbrella waiting for the rain to stop. She had this sad and tired expression on her face. She also looked very impatient. On the nearby building, people were crowding its entrance, waiting, cursing and smoking under their big umbrellas. “Hey no takers, only me and my dinosaur umbrella!” I struggled to keep balance with my mailbag wrapped on me, I run the risk of looking like a fool with a twisted umbrella as a sword against the strong wind and rain.

Before I could even begin my silent prayer for a taxi to drop from the heavens, a cab appeared on my side. It was no-Optimus Prime but it looked just as grand. I got inside the cab without much ado (not even a query on my destination from the driver.) I saw the young woman under the big umbrella crane her neck in disbelief that I boarded a cab without much effort.

If I turned back inside the building, I will be one rotting soul sitting in front of my computer monitor, busy with killing time and waiting for the stubborn rain to end. If I stayed behind I would have miss coming home to my excited and still awake children. If I procrastinated getting home due to the rains then I would not have this happy disposition at the moment. Too happy that I got to write about it and had it posted here.

Isis bella

January 2007 - You arrived in this world in a hurry. Unlike your brother where the waiting seems no end, you came in a dash. For 39 weeks, you were nestled in my womb and only in an hour you were tossed into this world that is all foreign to your senses.

You are beautiful. You have your father’s countenance especially his sovereign nose. The amazing part is that you are mine. And what’s more amazing than that… - I am taking you home!