I remember a time in elementary school. We were going through some dreary lesson when, outside, without warning, the sky turned gray and small raindrops grew from little pitter-patters to big slapping sounds. All the kids ran to the windows, in awe of what was going on outside, while our irritated teacher, looking at the empty chairs grumbled to us, "It's only rain, we've all seen it before!" As a kid, I never understood how she wouldn't want to run over to the window, too, and take in the drama. Did she just not appreciate it or was it because she was a grown-up wearied of another rainstorm?
Well, here I am, a "grown-up" now, and I was reminded of that teacher today, as the kids were constantly tempted outside by the warm sun coming through the windows. I was happy to suspend school and chores to let them run around and soak it all in, to me that's what childhood is all about. I admit there's part of me that got frustrated thinking we weren't going to accomplish much today, but when I remembered that worn-out expression on my teacher's face in contrast to all the wonder-struck smiles on my classmates I thought, "huh-uh", that's not going to be me. I don't ever want to turn into that dull, jaded teacher of mine. So, I grabbed my camera, slid on my flip-flops and stepped out into the sunshine to take a few photos to preserve the day.
