As you all know, I am not a fan of New Mexico weather, being a pluviophile, one who loves rain and feels at their best on rainy days. But it’s not just the peace or drama that rain provides, depending on its mood. It’s that rain, too much rain, all-day rainstorms, stay-inside-and-read rain are normal expected parts of life in a temperate climate, i.e., climate with four distinct seasons.

Here’s the thing. Growing up in a temperate climate renders many of us unfit for boring weather at whatever comfort level. We get no satisfaction from any environment that doesn’t make the journey from winter (real winter with blizzards and icy roads and endless complaints)—to spring—to summer—to autumn (with that morning thrill of the chill, foretelling an end to overheating; forests all crimson, orange, gold; important things like school and the best holidays and sentimental autumnal tunes filling our lives)—back to winter.

There’s also the communication boost that comes from living in a climate where change is the constant. What on earth besides the weather is safe to chat about when running into acquaintances at the grocers when you can’t remember their kids’ names or whether their mom’s in a nursing home or for certain what their politics are…? What can replace: “Geez, Jim, can’t remember it ever being this darn hot in June before, gonna kill the alfalfa if this keeps up.” “Yeah, ya betcha, Frank, never like this when I was a kid.” Or “Ya know, we haven’t had a snowstorm like that in years, lotta people going in the ditch, can’t remember how to drive on a little ice anymore!” “For sure, but if it keeps up there’s gonna be some spring flooding in Grand Forks.” Or ‘This is the latest spring or earliest fall in years…think there’ll be any wild blueberries, raspberries, deer flies, forest fires, good hunting/fishing next spring/summer/fall/winter?

If that sounds like I’m making fun of the way we talked back in olden times, that’s still the way we talk in the rural north. When we’re not complaining about “crap” on TV, damn crooked politicians (pretty bipartisan that one…), or the price of beer.

Okay, I am a northerner. Upper Midwesterner. And we had rain, quite a bit most years. Cold earth-awakening rain in the spring, dramatic thundery rain in the summer, long gray days of rain in the fall (a proper foil to those golden autumn days inspiring too much poetry…). We did not have winter rains when I was a kid, the moisture fell as god intended…as snow…back then.

I intended to get started blogging again with a catch-up of summer family goings-on. However, it is yet one more sunny day in New Mexico, temp to hover just below 100°. My doors are open now, inviting in the morning coolishness; shortly after noon, I’ll shut them, turn the AC on about 78°, half-close the shades, perhaps add a YouTube video of soft jazz in the rain on a device or two. Survival.

Honestly, I miss being a worker (or a student) when I was at my office or classroom or art center for most of these dreary sunny days.

Windows in the rain from a Norwegian train ride in the past.