“life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass – it’s about learning to dance in the rain” ~ Vivian Green

It’s hard to believe that it’s July 23 and the summer is half over. Typically we being camping in mid- to late-May, but this year is different. We finally took the camper on her maiden voyage for the year to the park that we visit most frequently.

I’ve been having some health issues, and I haven’t been as active this summer as in the past. I resolved to spend a piece of the weekend being active. My plan included a 2-3 mile hike with the dog and a paddle around the lake on my inflatable kayak.

Gracie and I had a fabulous 2.5 mile hike in the morning, and in the afternoon I decided to inflate, haul and launch the kayak all by myself for the first time (Mike generally gives me a helping hand). There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and I was looking forward to paddling to the far end of the lake and back. I estimated it would take about an hour.

Mike called out to me, “there’s an isolated path of raining coming in about an hour…” I answered, “If it comes, I guess I’ll get wet.” He countered, “if there’s lightening, get out of the water, okay?” I agreed, an headed down to the kayak launch, leaving him to tend the dog (and perhaps to take a nap). I decided not to take my phone so that I didn’t need to bother with a dry box.

I launched the kayak successfully only to remember that I forgot to install the skeg (the little pointy thing on the bottom that allows you to go straight). I hauled the darned thing back out of the water, fetched the skeg and flipped the now-wet kayak over to attach it. Skeg installed, I headed out to the open water. There were lots and lots of kayaks and canoes on the lake. Surely, there wouldn’t be a crowd on the lake if there were a storm coming, right?

This was only my second voyage on the inflatable, and it took a while to get a rhythm going. I was nearly to the far side of the lake when I noticed a very dark cloud. Very dark. I paddled harder. Perhaps I could complete my circuit before it reached my location. I made it to the turn around and started back. I could see rain in the distance. “No worries. Rain doesn’t bother me. At least there’s no thunder,” I thought to myself. As if God was reading my mind, I heard the first rumble off in the distance. I paddled harder. The sun was still shining everywhere but under that dark cloud. Perhaps I could outrun it!

The raindrops began to fall. They came slowly at first, and then harder. As they began to pound the lake, the thunder crashes began, and I headed to the boat ramp that was half way to my destination. By the time I arrived, several other kayaks and a paddle board had been hauled out of the water by their occupants. A parade of pickup trucks and cars lined up to pick up their soggy campmates. Our sole vehicle, however, was waiting for me at the other end of the lake.

There was no shelter nearby, so I stood in the rain. I watched the mist rise off the lake, and a grey heron wading near the shore. I felt the rivulets of water streaming down my skin. It was only wet – not cold, so I wasn’t miserable. Instead, I felt very alive.

I hoped that Mike wasn’t too worried. I couldn’t call to let him know because I hadn’t wanted to be bothered with a dry box. He had no car, so he couldn’t come find me.

I wrung the water out of my very wet bucket hat and took off the sunglasses that were so water streaked that I could no longer see through them. I realized that I was alone, and I began to dance (just a little). I closed my eyes and swayed to the soundtrack in my head. I had no concept of time at that point. When I returned to the camper, Mike told me the the storm had lasted about 45 minutes. It didn’t seem that long to me.

When the thunder was once again far off in the distance and the rain had slowed, I launched the kayak and completed the journey. I hauled the kayak out of the lake, put it back into the car and returned. He was out in front of the camper in his chair, watching for me. He admitted to being a little worried, and I told him how I had honored his promised and got out of the water when the storm came. He helped me get the kayak out of the car and I changed into warm, dry clothes (which felt awesome, by the way).

I took no photos (no phone, remember), but the memories will live in my head for a long time, I think, because I did something new, by myself, and I kept going even when things weren’t going as planned. I literally danced in the rain and was in no real hurry for the storm to pass.