Desert Rain

I was awoken this morning while it was still dark by an unfamiliar noise. I thought it was the cat messing around down stairs. What did he do this time, was my first thought. I rolled over and attempted to go back to sleep. I don't know if I fell asleep or not before I heard this unfamiliar noise again. I knew it wasn't the cat, but didn't know what it was. Trying to get all of the sleep I could being 8 months pregnant, I attempted to go back to sleep, after my 5th trip to the bathroom that night. Then I heard it again, it was unmistakable. It was the sound of thunder! I woke up my hubby, as I squealed with delight as there was a sudden flash of lightning visible through the skylight in our bathroom. My hubby who was not very happy with me and could care less that it was thundering outside, declined to run outside to enjoy the show. (By run, I mean getting outside as fast as a sore, slow moving, very pregnant woman can). I flung open our front door, and was greeted by my favorite smell in the entire world. Desert rain.

If you have never been to the Palm Springs area when it is raining, (which if you don't live here is highly unlikely that you have) there is this wonderful aroma that floods the air. The conditions have to be just right, the scent happens before it starts raining, when it is only sprinkling. If I remember correctly from a 2nd grade field trip, it is cause by a certain desert plant. It is the most glorious smell in the world. There is nothing else like it, therefore it is impossible for me to describe it to those of you who have never smelt it before. Not only is it an amazing smell, but it has so many memories attached.

Growing up in the desert, it NEVER rained and by rain, I mean even sprinkled. That smell as a kid was the promise that I would see a few drops from the sky. The possibility of jumping in puddles, the possibility of streets being closed because the streets here aren't ready for water, the possibility of catching rain drops on my tongue. Children who grew up in places where it actually rained on occasion, take these simple joys for granted. I used to sit in the sprinklers pretending it was rain w/ an umbrella. Any time there was so much as a drop from the sky, I was outside with boots and an umbrella to play in the rain.

I wish that I could bottle the smell of desert rain, and save it. Yet maybe the reason it is so special is because it is so rare. Desert rain is an old dear friend whom you don't see very often, so each visit is special and dear to your heart. So desert friends, ignore the crazy pregnant lady attempting to jump in 1/2 inch puddles, catch raindrops on her tongue and taking long deep breaths of desert rain.