The autumnal equinox may officially take place tomorrow, but as far as I’m concerned, fall has already arrived. A drop in temperature? Check. Rain? Check. Pumpkins for sale at the grocery store? Check. I love all of these things, especially the change in weather. In fact, you can call me a meteorology nerd because I’m totally into weather forecasting. Forget about Facebook and iTunes, the most used application on my smart phone is WeatherBug. I check it in the morning, the afternoon, the evening, pretty much all day and night. That’s why last weekend I felt like I hit the weather jackpot.
My husband and I attended the Reno Air Races, an event we try not to miss. As usual, the weather was warm — no, actually it was hot with highs near ninety degrees. Despite the use of sunscreen, each of us got a sun burn, and let me tell you, heading back to the hotel’s air conditioning was a welcome relief. The day we left, however, driving from Reno to Sacramento, Calif., to catch a flight back home, things changed. Stopping for lunch in Truckee, Calif., the weather had turned very stormy, with strong wind gusts and chilly rain, causing my sandal-clad feet to yearn for socks and tennis shoes. Then Mother Nature decided to up her game by turning the rain into heavy, wet flakes of snow. The short walk from the restaurant back to our rental car left us soaked and shivering. Landing in Portland later that evening, we were met with more rain but milder temperatures; in other words, the temperate characteristics of fall. From sun burns to frozen toes to rain-kissed faces, we encountered summer, winter and fall in one 24-hour period. Ah, the mercurial whims of weather.
All of my columns this month so far have celebrated September and autumn — and this one is no exception. This time, I offer a shout-out to fall weather, or, more specifically, rain. The Pacific Northwest experiences all types of weather, but without rain, the landscape would look completely different. It’s understandable why some people are driven to drier climes when the rainy season sets in, but for me, it’s the reason I love this beautiful area. I hope you feel the same way, too, but if you crave more sunshine, my desert upbringing cheers you on.
This rain-themed reading list includes picture books and poetry for rain-loving kids, and several nonfiction titles for adults (liquid sunshine fans or not). All of the picture books are lovely tributes to wet weather and our senses — how the water sounds, feels and smells. The adult nonfiction titles range from art to history to gardening, celebrating the necessity and beauty of rain. Enjoy!
