What to do in all that water?

Newport-Mesa has been lucky, largely avoiding any serious damage from

the seemingly everlasting wet weather. We had a tornado warning,

which ended up only being exciting and not deadly. A few trees have

fallen, taking out a car and damaging a home here and there. But

nothing, so far, that can’t be fixed.

That happy fact gives us the luxury to ponder the storms. And we

think we know what people’s problem is with all that rain: We don’t

know what to do when it’s coming down, day and night.

You look around, and what are people doing to entertain

themselves? They go to the movies. Maybe they end up shopping indoors

(South Coast Plaza and not Fashion Island).

In other words, they pretty much do what they always do because,

after all, when it’s sunny and warm here, we don’t have to drop

everything and take advantage of it. Tomorrow will be sunny and warm,

too. So let’s see a movie!

We don’t think about curling up in front of the fire. (You do have

a fireplace, right?) We don’t know that it’s just water, after all,

so go out and play (unless you’re younger than 10). We don’t have the

tools and experience to embrace the weather. We feel limited by the

weather instead of feeling liberated. Why not Scrabble? Why not cook

up a pot of homemade soup that takes all day and plenty of stirring?

Do something you have to because it’s raining, and love it.

But, no, we don’t get this. And so we scowl. We complain. We

blister with rage about our wet cuffs.

We’re all wet when it comes to this rain.