This Rain Can Stop Now

As a mostly native Oregonian, (I was born in Seattle and moved to Oregon when I was 5) I have seen most of what this state, specifically the Willamette Valley, has to offer as far as weather is concerned. I've seen droughts in summer, flooding in winter, rain that brought land slides blocking the coast range and causing major detours. I've seen winds that blew down trees, ice thick enough to collapse power lines, and just a couple of years back two weeks of snow that brought this town to a complete stand still, but this year has taken the cake.

They call it La Niña, and it brings extra wet weather to the Pacific Northwest. Those of us who live here understand that wet winters and springs are par for the course. There is no hope for summer until after The Rose Festival. That's Portland's party that happens from early to mid June. We make up for it by having some of the most beautiful summers on earth, but to get to summer you have to go through spring and years like this try men's souls. The weather has been cold and damp all winter and to make matters worse Cam has picked this year to try his hand at Lacrosse.

I'm all for Lacrosse, I love the running (for him), the eye hand coordination, and the team play it requires. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is played outdoors rain or shine. We haven't had too much of the latter this year. I think there have been a total of three Lacrosse days this year when it hasn't rained at least a little. A typical practice is an hour and a half of rain followed by a soggy trip home. Nothing gets a chance to dry out and I swear we are going to end up with the entire practice field being brought home on his cleats. I'm going to need to figure some kind of a way to handle all of the wetness. Until I do there will be more #OregoniansAgainstRain showing up on @MacBeerchill's twitter feed, and for sure there will be more whining. Fair Notice!

Things You Learn

I've made a discovery. I'm not proud of it. I thought I was a real Oregonian. We pride ourselves on our ability to take a little rain. Anything from a downpour to the more typical drenching drizzle. Turns out I'm a weather wimp.

The evidence:

My office recently moved from the suburbs to a building in downtown Stumptown. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but now that we're here I can't imagine working anywhere else. It's a giant sundae covered in Awesome sauce. So much to do and see. In fact there is so much to do and see that I'm spending time outdoors, walking, in the weather. Didn't do much walking outdoors in the burbs. Now I'm looking hungrily at those posers with umbrellas.

My son took up lacrosse this spring. "No problem", I thought, "I'm a youth sports vet. Three seasons of youth football, standing on the sidelines. Piece of cake." As I stood shivering in the rain yesterday I thought back to those three seasons and realized that I had only been rained on three times. That's three times over those three seasons. I've been rained on twice now in lacrosse and he's only had two outdoor practices.

I don't know what to say. I'm the guy who wears the shorts all winter long. I'm the guy that doesn't get cold as long as he's got a knit cap on. This is doing horrible things to my self image. It's something I'm going to need to work through.

In the meantime, if you see someone that reminds you of me, holding an umbrella, just walk away. It'll save us both a lot of embarrassment.