Is it rainy enough for you?

No matter what the weather is, someone will greet you with the question, "Is it hot/cold/wet/dry enough for you?" I have never known how to respond to that question. Obviously it is too hot/cold/wet/dry or the question wouldn't be asked. However, the question does make me pause to think. If I would be put in charge of the weather what would I do? My first reaction would be that I would keep it nice and warm, but not hot, with frequent gentle showers that come between midnight and 4 a.m. It would never get cold enough that you would need more than a jacket for warmth, and it would never get hot enough that you were uncomfortable wearing a few clothes. That would be my first quick thought.

With a little more time I would start to think about how I would miss seeing the snow and feeling the sharpness of a winter wind in my face. I would especially miss the winter birds that come to our feeder only in the winter months. I would miss the beauty of evergreen trees frosted with snow or ice, and seeing the bare outlines of the deciduous trees without their leaves hiding the design of the tree.

On the other side of the thermometer I think I would miss experiencing days so hot that a mild breeze seems like a gift. The fun of swimming would be diminished if it weren't such a treat to get relief from the heat. Even the ice in my Dr. Pepper wouldn't refresh as much if I weren't really hot from time to time.

And these thoughts are just about me and my comfort and enjoyment. Our wild life, flowers, crops and our whole ecosystem need the benefits that each type of temperature brings. Even the storms that we have experienced lately have a place in the overall picture. I would prefer that their place be far away from me, but so far I have not suffered personally very much by bad weather.

I used to think the world would come to an end if it rained on the Fourth of July. It has rained and the world has continued as before. And usually the farmers were very happy to see the rain.

So if I were in charge of the weather there would always be someone who was unhappy with me, because of their personal plans or their business success.

I respect the weather and the strength that can come in the force of wind or water, and I don't take chances anymore by ignoring what the weather might bring.

I prefer to stay at home when ice is on the roads. I stay inside when it is lightning, and I watch the weather channels carefully when tornadoes are predicted. I don't drive on a road that has water running over it, and I stay off lakes and ponds if the wind is high.

Being in charge of the weather does not appeal to me at all. It is being handled very well without my input. In spite of tragedies that hit worldwide, I think I will answer the question, "Yes, it is rainy enough for me, thank you."