A Little Rain Must Fall
"Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella." ~Pepper Giardino
We had a great storm come through last night and drop alot of rain on our area. It is supposed to be the rainy season in Florida, I think, and from all accounts I've heard it is supposed to last all of a few days. I'll be sure to let you know.
Listening to the drops on the skylight made me remember monsoon season in Seoul, South Korea. When we landed there in the summer it was almost the start of monsoon season and everyone warned us of how humid, sticky and utterly rainy it would get. Being a Floridian for most of my life, I wasn't afraid of the humidity and I was too silly to be afraid of the rain. The first encounter I had with the monsoon season was on my way out to register at the health clinic. I will never forget stepping outside and being hit with an unexplainable amount of water. So much that I should have just left my umbrella at home. I looked up to see if there wasn't some person pouring a bucket directly over my head. When I stepped again, the same amount of water hit me. With each step came another drenching. The humidity and the heat were probably much like Florida except the stark contrast from the season before made me unaccustomed to it. It felt like swimming standing up and fully clothed.
Fast forward about a year. The new Battalion Commander was coming in and there was a change of command ceremony being held at the height of monsoon season. Vic was taking Company Command the following month and I was at the ceremony to meet his soon to be boss. As is tradition, after the ceremony there is a receiving line to shake the incoming Commander's hand and then a reception. Vic and I were going through the receiving line, I was in front of him with a closed umbrella hanging on my wrist. When I reached up to shake the Commander's hand the umbrella caught the edge of my dress. (Something I forgot to mention about monsoon season is the irratic winds that gust throughout the region.) At just that moment a gusting wind came up and lifted my dress into the air. The style of dresses back then was this babydoll style that has recently come BACK into fashion. The hem to the dress was just under my chest and the rest of the dress, all flowing skirt, continued on from there. Because of this design, the wind was able to lift the skirt up into the air in front of my face only stopping at the seam. Also because of the design, the skirt slowly settled back down much like a parachute. Because of the humidity I wasn't wearing panty hose or any sort of clothing that might make this event salvageable. Let's just say that I greeted Vic's new boss with just me and my Hanes! In absolute slow motion, the skirt settled and the Executive Officer to the Commander, standing beside him, was staring at me in disbelief. His eyes were wide and he was mouthing my name. I think there was an expletive before it but I didn't get the full word. The Commander was looking to the side which made me almost believe that he had missed the whole fiasco. I completed the receiving line and walked directly to the shuttle bus that would return me to our quarters. I swore never to show my face again.
Two fantastic years passed where Vic commanded his Company and the Battalion Commander and his family became not only mentors but friends. It was time for us to leave, and as tradition goes there was a Hail and Farewell. These events are opportunities, much like roasts, when the organization gets it's chance to laud you with thanks, highlight your best and worst moments and send you on your way. It is a glorious time, especially for those who are leaving. The Battalion Commander stood up to say his words about Vic and they started something like this.... "When I first met Vic and Pam, it was a very hot and muggy day at my Change of Command. They were coming through the receiving line....." and he continued to tell the above story with such incredible accuracy and color. Much to my dismay, the event was every bit as dramatic as I remembered it and to hear it retold there at our final event was hilarious. To this day I always say, if you listen carefully when I find myself in these situations you can hear the subtle flush of Vic's career going down the toilet.
Into every life, a little rain must fall. I've found that the moments when I begin to take myself so seriously, when I start to think that everything I do is crucial, the funny and absurd things happen. I can't, for the life of me, remember what was happening then that I took so seriously but I sure can remember the times filled with laughter. If that is the criteria for what will be remembered in my future, then I will greet the day, rain and gusty winds included, with a smile, a laugh and a whole lot of gratitude.
We had a great storm come through last night and drop alot of rain on our area. It is supposed to be the rainy season in Florida, I think, and from all accounts I've heard it is supposed to last all of a few days. I'll be sure to let you know.
Listening to the drops on the skylight made me remember monsoon season in Seoul, South Korea. When we landed there in the summer it was almost the start of monsoon season and everyone warned us of how humid, sticky and utterly rainy it would get. Being a Floridian for most of my life, I wasn't afraid of the humidity and I was too silly to be afraid of the rain. The first encounter I had with the monsoon season was on my way out to register at the health clinic. I will never forget stepping outside and being hit with an unexplainable amount of water. So much that I should have just left my umbrella at home. I looked up to see if there wasn't some person pouring a bucket directly over my head. When I stepped again, the same amount of water hit me. With each step came another drenching. The humidity and the heat were probably much like Florida except the stark contrast from the season before made me unaccustomed to it. It felt like swimming standing up and fully clothed.
Fast forward about a year. The new Battalion Commander was coming in and there was a change of command ceremony being held at the height of monsoon season. Vic was taking Company Command the following month and I was at the ceremony to meet his soon to be boss. As is tradition, after the ceremony there is a receiving line to shake the incoming Commander's hand and then a reception. Vic and I were going through the receiving line, I was in front of him with a closed umbrella hanging on my wrist. When I reached up to shake the Commander's hand the umbrella caught the edge of my dress. (Something I forgot to mention about monsoon season is the irratic winds that gust throughout the region.) At just that moment a gusting wind came up and lifted my dress into the air. The style of dresses back then was this babydoll style that has recently come BACK into fashion. The hem to the dress was just under my chest and the rest of the dress, all flowing skirt, continued on from there. Because of this design, the wind was able to lift the skirt up into the air in front of my face only stopping at the seam. Also because of the design, the skirt slowly settled back down much like a parachute. Because of the humidity I wasn't wearing panty hose or any sort of clothing that might make this event salvageable. Let's just say that I greeted Vic's new boss with just me and my Hanes! In absolute slow motion, the skirt settled and the Executive Officer to the Commander, standing beside him, was staring at me in disbelief. His eyes were wide and he was mouthing my name. I think there was an expletive before it but I didn't get the full word. The Commander was looking to the side which made me almost believe that he had missed the whole fiasco. I completed the receiving line and walked directly to the shuttle bus that would return me to our quarters. I swore never to show my face again.
Two fantastic years passed where Vic commanded his Company and the Battalion Commander and his family became not only mentors but friends. It was time for us to leave, and as tradition goes there was a Hail and Farewell. These events are opportunities, much like roasts, when the organization gets it's chance to laud you with thanks, highlight your best and worst moments and send you on your way. It is a glorious time, especially for those who are leaving. The Battalion Commander stood up to say his words about Vic and they started something like this.... "When I first met Vic and Pam, it was a very hot and muggy day at my Change of Command. They were coming through the receiving line....." and he continued to tell the above story with such incredible accuracy and color. Much to my dismay, the event was every bit as dramatic as I remembered it and to hear it retold there at our final event was hilarious. To this day I always say, if you listen carefully when I find myself in these situations you can hear the subtle flush of Vic's career going down the toilet.
Into every life, a little rain must fall. I've found that the moments when I begin to take myself so seriously, when I start to think that everything I do is crucial, the funny and absurd things happen. I can't, for the life of me, remember what was happening then that I took so seriously but I sure can remember the times filled with laughter. If that is the criteria for what will be remembered in my future, then I will greet the day, rain and gusty winds included, with a smile, a laugh and a whole lot of gratitude.
I love this quote and wanted to reference it in something but can't seem to find who Pepper Giardino is despite searching high and low on the Internet. Any help?
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