The Rain is Upon Us.

It rains in Bellingham, from time to time. I don't think it rains as much as people would have you believe. It seems that the locals, or at least the embedded imports, give Bellingham a bit more credit than it deserves. When i was new to this area all i heard was how much it rained and how little it snowed. And it does rain, lots and lots and lots. This morning the rain is pounding against the windows with the sound of pebbles being tossed across the yard. I can hear the wind running against the walls and over the roof and already i dread going outside. The rain, honestly, frustrates me. I have, already, an excusist personality and i procrastinate terribly. It doesn't take much to convince me not to go for a run or a bike ride, much as i enjoy both activities, but once convinced i feel low and the self image struggle begins to pull me very deep into low confidence and personal frustration.

I could almost say that during the winter months, the "rainy season" of Bellingham, my self-confidence drops to a devastating low. The clouds are dark and the rain seems perpetually imminent. I don't know exactly what it is, I don't mind being wet and a little mud while mt. biking is sort of cool and adds a new element to the sport. Its just the rain i think, one more obstacle to overcome. In a life filled with obstacles, though, overcoming one more to unwind and have fun is a daunting task and takes a great deal of motivation and energy. Not to mention moral support and a partner in crime. But my partners in crime and i have a way of deciding to drink more beer instead of heading into the rain. Perhaps Henry V could have convinced us out of hiding and onto the field but the oratory powers of IPA are a bit stronger from the fridge than the fridge outside.

Rain is not as frequent in Bellingham as some would have you believe. We don't live in a constant state of flooding and gore-tex--yet it rains enough for me to feel like it will never end.