The Weather Anyway | the Urban Dater

The clouds wouldn’t let the sun through. It was a dull, cool grey that washed over LA. The temperature was chilly—it was summer and felt like anything but, around town.

In r/losangeles you’d see the comments and posts mounting is it always like this around here? or when does summer start anyway? Usually from vacationers looking to experience their perfect LA vacay. No. The weather had other ideas. My friend, Rachel, visited me in Pasadena and it was rainy and cold—what the fuck, dude? I shrugged, I didn’t know what to say. So I looked up Tiki bar options to pore over everything.

I remember sitting on my front porch. Even though it was cloudy, it was still clear. I know that doesn’t make much sense. I sank into my camp chair—which has never gone camping—high as a kite and thought, I’m going to miss this when it’s gone. And I was right… I did. I still do.

The days got clearer, the days got warmer, and my runs became more labored. Summer had arrived. I was so busy trying to stay busy that I missed it while it was here, I took the clouds, all of it, for granted. I didn’t take care, I didn’t pay attention. Had I done both, maybe things would have been different; maybe I’d have held on to those pillowy grey puffs of moisture. But I didn’t. And time went on…

I finished a seven-mile run the other day, and my body was furious about the whole thing, but as I keeled over, panting and puffing, the thought occurred to me that I never thanked the weather for the comfort it gave me.

You see, when it was cloudy and grey, my runs were a little easier, a little more comfortable. Everything about my life was just that much better, all because the sunshine didn’t poke through the puffy, dreary clouds. And that was a very good thing.

Even though people complained, my running buddy complained about the weather and demanded that Summer get on with it already. I was quietly grateful for the respite from the more harsh elements.

So I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the weather. I appreciate the comfort you provided and all you taught me while I was going through it. I’m sorry I never told you that when you were here. I won’t make that mistake twice.

Thank you for everything.

xoxo