The Summer of Rain

I live in South Carolina where, for the most part, the summer days consist of 96+ degree weather with 60-90% humidity. Folks spend their days off either at the pool, out in a boat, or at the beach. The locals accept the fact that the summer months bring in a ton...and I mean A TON of tourists which is fine because it helps finance things like new sidewalks, paved roads and general beautifying and upkeep of the area. We have been taught from childhood to hold doors for others, always give your seat up to a lady (if your a guy) and anyone older than yourself, and refer to anyone resembling an adult as Ma'am or Sir.

The sweltering heat, made only hotter by the humidity is a fact of life here. You get ready in the morning, brushing your hair just so, and your makeup perfectly painted before putting on a pretty flowy sundress. And as soon as you walk out your door your hair immediately frizzes, often times to the point of resembling Diana Ross (if you have naturally curly hair like myself), your makeup begins to melt and you are enveloped in a slick layer from head to toe (lady's call it glistening...aka sweating, the locals lovingly refer to it as swamp butt). Now notice the pretty sundress...girls in the south don't generally wear these pretty flowing dresses to look nice (it is a perk though), we wear them because 1) it is to hot to wear anything the doesn't breath, 2) dresses generally pull away from the skin cutting down on things like back sweat and butt cheek sweat marks on your clothing, and 3) it is far easier to slide off a flowy dress than it is to peel (literally peel) shorts, pants or any other fitted piece of clothing from your overheated, sweaty body. The beach and beautiful surroundings make it all worth it...however, I have a bone to pick with this summer.

Most summer days consist of a short afternoon shower, by short I mean that within the period of an hour (at most) a storm rolls in, it rains and then the storm rolls out and the world is sunny and happy again. This summer though, the weather has consisted of skies covered in grey clouds and daily rain storms...rain storms meaning heavy downpours lasting hours and causing flooding. If it isn't pouring rain it is sprinkling off and on all day long! I feel like I am living in Washington State not South Carolina and I am fed up...yes I understand that the rain is great for our water-table, we are no longer technically in a drought but c-mon! It is nearly impossible to make plans to go out an enjoy the weather when, the weather isn't enjoyable and it is so unpredictable that by the time you get to your destination it is raining again, then 5 minutes later the rain has stopped but 15 minutes from then you'll be caught in a downpour...I am annoyed.

Mother nature is going to do her thing regardless of what I have to say, or think about her actions. I can only hope that all of this rain will end up paying off in some way...perhaps we won't be tight on water for the next few years, even if we don't meet our future rain quota...I don't know, I guess I'm just trying to find the silver lining in all of this crummy summer weather.