"RAIN IS GOOD"

  RAIN IS GOOD

"Rain Is Good! Rain Is Good!" I chanted as I made my way around

the dining room of our "Senior Living" here on Long Island. The rain

had just begun and the predictable moans and groans could be heard

throughout.

"What's so 'good' about it?" called out Susan, one of the most outspoken

'NAGS' (my name for the Negative and 'Grouchys' among us)

"Well, to begin, our growing food needs it, fruits and vegetables, our trees

and bushes, flowers..."

" Our animals," called out Norma, " farm animals, our forest animals like

deer, even worms need it..."

"Ha ha" laughed Susan ," and when was the last time any of you  even

saw a deer. We're city people."

"That's true" I said. And rain cools our city streets in the summer heat..."

I was getting impatient with her negativism, Don't you ever have anything

positive to say? I wanted to ask her but I knew better than to tangle

with her type. "And let me add that the rain washes snow away in the

streets, sidewalks, steps..."

Susan stood up and waved her arms; That's right" she shouted, "but I love

the snow. It's so pretty as it glistens and gleams in the sunlight and in the

moonlight, and then that darned rain comes along and turns it all to mush!"

I was stunned. Here she was liking...(loving) something that most

Seniors did not like and in some ways dreaded. It was at the least

inconvenient but especially risky for us to be walking on it.

 A slip could mean months in the hospital with a broken hip, or knee,

 or even a toe. But Susan saw the beauty of the white glistening snow

in the 'sunlight and in the moonlight'.

When our lunchtime was over I felt the need to tell her how surprised and

 pleased I was that she expressed positive feelings which was so unlike

 her .But I hesitated before I spoke, unsure of what her reaction to my

words would be,  " I hope that now you'll have a more positive outlook on

 everything, " I said, smiling.

 She had no hesitation , she just blurted out , "And I hope that you have a less

 positive outlook! You're so cheerful... especially early in the morning...before

 I've had my coffee for Pete's sake! Sometimes you even sing", she

 she added, almost gagging as she said it.

This brought some applause from the room and a lot of discussion pro

and con on the subject. Suggestions came pouring in;  " How about if the

'negative' types and 'positive' types use separate rooms to gather in, Susan's

will use the sitting room with the fireplace and the windows which are

hidden by heavy brocade drapes, and can complain and nag to their hearts content.

Our group  can meet in the game room with the curtains opened wide to let

us view the sun and the rain, we welcome them both."

" WAIT A MINUTE!" exclaimed Susan. "I can't let you think that I don't care

 about our carrots, our apples, our cows and our worms. I do care. And by

 way, I have to admit it, the smell of rain on the grass is delicious."

With that the room burst into hearty applause.

"But" she continued, "why does it have to rain in the afternoon?"I want it

to rain at night between 10 and 7... when we're sleeping!"

"Oh no, " called out Pauline from the rear of the room, " 10 o'clock is too

early.  Don't let the rain start until 11. And never on Friday or Saturday nights."

"And I'm out on Wednesdays" said Susan.

"OKAY, " I said , "I'll ask the Big Man upstairs. In the meanwhile let's keep a

smile in our hearts for whatever comes our way.
                                                            THE END

                       
                       
                                                      CHANGE? ADAPT? REMAIN THE SAME?