It's Fall....

Well, summer's over here in Western Washington. This morning I woke up to clouds, rain, and wind. Goodbye sunshine it was nice while it lasted. I'll miss you and look forward to seeing you sometime after the 4th of July 2006.

Even though I've lived here 18 years I've never been one of those residents who say, "I can't wait for the rain, I'm tired of this hot weather." Yes, there are people here who start saying this in July when the temperature reaches 80 degrees. I always felt like we don't get enough sunshine and warm days to complain about them when they happen. I personally feel that sunny days should be treated like major holidays. All businesses should close so that employees can take advantage of the rare treat and go to the beach. Well slathered in sun-screen, of course! Unfortunately, my own bosses haven't seen fit to grant that wish so I guess they won't be starting any trends.

Six years ago I ran a retail store on the rare sandy beach here. It is very popular with tourists and locals alike so we got a lot of sunny day business. Not so much when it was cloudy. Our building got sweltering hot and we slaved over a hot grill making burgers which made it even worse. People would come in wearing shorts, bikini's, flip-flops, and all variety of summer wear making me long to be out there with them. I'm not exaggerating when I say that six weeks in a row it would be beautiful on the days I worked and cloudy and rainy on my days off. It didn't matter when I took my days off. Weekends-crappy weather; midweek-crappy weather; late in the week-crappy weather. It was all I could do not to cry. I told people that one day I wouldn't come to work and all they'd find would be a note from me that said, "I've gone South to find sunshine. I'll be back when I'm sick of it." I don't think I would ever get sick of it.

I knew a guy in highschool who went to the University of Hawaii. He transferred to University of Washington after one year. He said that he just got tired of it being sunny all the time. 12 years later I still can't fathom that.

Despite the weather I still love it here! I just want to win the lottery so I can have a 2nd home in New Mexico.