Raining Again...

I seriously can't remember the last time that it rained for so many days straight in San Diego. Maybe that's because it's never happened since I've lived here? The rain usually holds a dear special place in my heart. It reminds me of my time spent in Ireland (where it rained almost daily) and all the fond memories that go along with that...

One of my favorite rainy memories from Ireland was the day that Megan, Annie, and I ventured to the Aran Islands. The weather wasn't particularly good that morning as we boarded the ferry, and it soon took it's vengeance on the tiny boat, rocking it to and fro and pounding it with wave after wave. When we finally reached blessed land, the weather had cleared just enough to allow the jaunting car drivers an opportunity to wrangle in tourists like myself one last time before closing up for winter.

We climbed up into the jaunting car eagerly anticipating our tour around Inishmor, the largest of the Aran Islands. As we traveled in the open air car, we watched as the clouds began their ominous grouping in the darkening sky. Still, our spirits weren't dampened as we pressed on, equipped with warm blankets and rain coats. When we reached our resting spot at a small cafe, our driver told us that we could climb to the cliffs...but we'd have to do it by foot! So Annie, Megan, and I started our journey up the rain soaked path, laughing the whole way and armed with blankets wrapped around us and an umbrella that quickly met its fate as the wind whisked it away. When we got to the top we were met with an astonishing view of the sheer cliffs that dropped straight down into the pounding waves. As we gathered around to take pictures we noticed that the rain wasn't just coming straight down anymore. It was shooting over the side of the cliff and pelting us from the side!

Soaked to the bone and happy as clams, we headed back down to the cafe and its beckoning fireplace and hot coffee. As we were finishing the tour we were delighted with the site of a rainbow emerging over two swans who huddled together in the water. It was one of my favorite days that yielded one of my favorite pictures from my entire year in Ireland.

And really, thinking about that memory makes another day of rain in San Diego a little more tolerable.