Well, it's been a very dry season since I got my new Il Bello scooter, so the weather here has been miserably hot, but unusually dry... so I haven't had to ride in the rain -- at least not when I had to go more than a few hundred feet (and even then, it was mostly sprinkles).

So this morning, I was talking with someone at work, and she happened to ask me whether I rode my bike or got a ride when it was wet, and I told her that, even if it was pouring cats and dogs, riding my bike was immeasurably preferable to trying to get my beloveds out of the house in the morning...

... which I think the Universe, smart-ass prankster that it is, took as a challenge...

When I left work today, it was pouring, with no end in sight. The rain was sheeting out of the sky, thunder and lightning chasing each other through eyes and ears, and it was as dark as at 9pm. I heaved myself onto my scooter and set off towards my demense, figuring that it wasn't getting any better, but it -might- get worse, so now or never...

When I got home, I was soaked to the skin... literally, I was draining enough water to make my own little channel to the storm drain. The rigid, 'neatnik' aspect of my Virgo personality looked down at my squishy sneakers; soggy, droopy pants; and running watercolor shirt and clucked it's internal tongue... "What -were- you thinking?" I trudged up the stairs to get clean and dry...

When I got close to the top of the stairs, my more chaotic, elastic, and just plain -fun- side finally spoke up (she was having a little trouble breathing through the laughter)... "What was I thinking? I was thinking that I haven't had that much fun in MONTHS!"

I was right... I -would- rather ride my scooter, wet, free and independent, than wait around for the comfort and -confinement- of my beloved's car. Now, of course, I have to do laundry before all those soaking-wet clothes start to smell!