The rains come

I've been in the Bay Area for a while now. The space, the weather, the beauty of nature so close by - all of these have given fresh perspective, and also helped me understand better the places where I came from. There are some things that I do miss - for instance, the food sold on the streets in India. And the thunderstorms during the monsoon season - there is nothing as exciting here as that. It was something amazing, to actually hear the thunder and lightning - deep bass rumble and crack accompanied by the shuddering cymbals of windows. Hearing first, then running out into the rain, falling in such torrents that it stings a bit till you get used to it. Sheets of rain, pouring so dense that it's hard to see through.

Sometimes I go for a hike here when the weather report predicts a storm, to be out on a hill-top and watch the clouds sweep in across the Bay. The wind is strong, it buffets my solitary figure, I can lean into it though. Rain washes clean the air, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. There is hope.