Rain or shine it's umbrella time

Over the past 3 days I've been caught twice in rain without my umbrella. It's not fun. Unless there is (1) a coffee shop near by I can slip into and (2) I have an adequate amount of work in my backpack or a good book so I can at least be productive.

Hopefully sooner than later I will understand that when I leave for work in the morning, no matter how sunny and lovely it is outside, I must grab my umbrella. MUST.

Now if I were a Colombian, it wouldn't matter if it were raining or not. Often when I'm walking through town in the middle of the day, minding my own business, whistling away at the sunshine streaming down, I will look up and see and a woman walking under her umbrella. Lady, hello, there is no rain. It is safe to put it down. In Spanish they are called "paraguas" (literally "stop water"). What are you stopping if there's no water. Oh yeah, the sunshine! Brilliant. I have encountered this several times. It's like those rain clouds that follow you...except this isn't bad, it's like a magical fairy that gives you shade. Umbrella turned into multi-purpose-sun-blocking tool.

Another good thing about walking with an umbrella in the sunshine is that frequently the sky will darken up and just begin raining without warning. Bam. Rain storm. The Colombian women are all ready, while this gringa is staring from under a ledge unable to walk home. Yes I just got one-upped. And you know what, I'm okay with it. I just can't bring myself to hide from the wonders of a sunny day! Tomorrow morning when I leave for work and it's nice out, I will not walk under my paragua. Hopefully I'll remember to stick it in my backpack though, and if not, I'll get wet, walk home, lick my wounds, and most likely make the same choice day after day!