Tuesday, June 9, 2009


Umbrellas and Bumbershoots

To walk down the street, under an umbrella, in the rain, is a decidedly pleasant activity for a human being. There are few more satisfying sounds than the pop and the patter of raindrops on a sheltering umbrella. Of course the choice of umbrella is vital to the enjoyment of a such a walk. No puny popup thing will do. A capacious, old-fashioned creation is required for the ultimate experience and I am indeed fortunate to have the most perfect one imaginable. A gift from the Songwriter years ago, it is big, black and British-crafted, with a carved wooden rabbit head for a handle. Mary Poppins’ talking parrot umbrella would be my sole competition. The only trouble is, I nearly always leave it at home, sedentary and dry, in the umbrella stand in my entry hall. For much like Marianne Dashwood, I always think it won’t rain, and then it always does.

So as usual, I left the house one day last week without my rabbit head umbrella. And, as usual, it rained. All day. Not a deluge, but a soft and constant shower, warm wet silky drops that seemed to melt into the pavement with nary a splatter. It was actually quite refreshing and on more than one occasion as I made my way to and from various shop doors, I lifted my face to the grey sky above just to feel a touch of the falling elixir on my skin.

It is always amusing to watch Americans in the rain, and that day was no exception. There they were, huddled in ovine fashion under store awnings, peering up with furrowed brows, anxious for any sign that this wicked substance descending from the unfriendly sky was subsiding. Women held their handbags over their heads and ran squealing for their cars, while men simply hunched their shoulders, lowered their heads and quick-marched along with a martyred air. One would think battery acid was falling from the sky instead of innocent droplets of water.

One of the many reasons I love to travel in Scotland is the mercurial nature of the weather. While a sunny day is lovely, I do not in the least mind the rain, and I adore the wind, which is ideal because in Scotland one often experiences all of these conditions in the short span of an afternoon. I once sat in my car on Portree square taking in the scene around me as a gentle rain began to fall. There was a fellow perched on a nearby bench reading the newspaper. Hatless, and with no umbrella or raincoat, he calmly continued to read as the rain gathered strength, the wind blew and the skies darkened . Only when his newspaper became so wet that the pages began to shred did he fold it up under his arm and saunter off at a casual pace through the storm.

Of course I once visited Glenfinnan during rain that was akin to being shot full in the face with a fire hose. I was laughing so hard at my predicament that I wasn’t able to run properly for shelter, and of course I had left my umbrella, once again, at home. Which was just as well, for no umbrella would have been up to the task that day.
Perhaps a bumbershoot??

37 comments:

  1. Oh darling reading you is a gift.

    I have had my treat today. Thank you.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  2. Your words are magic.
    Please continue on forever
    Love Jeanne

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  3. I love your spin on the world Pamela - forever finding magic, xv.

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  4. I am so typical of a southerner...I put the hood up on my rain jacket! That's a pretty site, indeed! We just watched Sense and Sensibility last night...again! We love the characters in that movie!

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  5. Lovely post again Pamela. I love umbrellas but, like you, I usually leave them at home. Really, unless there is an absolute downpour soft gentle rain is quite pleasant to walk in. There is nothing the farmer likes better than what he calls "a good, steady rain" - it does such alot of good to the land.

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  6. My grandparent's Queen Anne syle house had a tin roof and I loved curling up in their bed and listening to the rain.
    Like you, I lift my face to the rain. Don't mind getting wet at all.
    Catherine

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  7. Congratulations on the one year Anniversary :) I love this post about umbrellas and rain, it's soothing and for a short time, I stepped out of time to experience it. Thank you :)

    Kim x

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  8. I'm so glad you found my blog!!! I love your writing and will be back often to visit! Hasn't the rain been something this year in GA? I grew up in the rain capital in Germany (or so it seemed) and have always had a collection of umbrellas, which are finally getting used after living in the desert for 10 years. ;) Wonderful post! :) Silke

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  9. Oh, your umbrella sounds like something from a good old fashioned story book.

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  10. My favorite is a beautiful one I brought back from Japan. Lovely post.

    My little sister used to call them "dub-dubs".

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  11. "..anxious for any sign that this wicked substance descending from the unfriendly sky was subsiding.."

    Why do we treat rain this way? It really is a blessing and something to be celebrated. Thank you for reminding me. It's winter here. Outside my window the morning fog is clinging to the eucalypts and dew drops drip from the remaining leaves on the rose bushes. Rain is forecast for later this afternoon. You've inspired me to go out for a walk in the rain. I may even leave the umbrella behind!

    Thanks for another thoughtful and enchanting post!
    Hugs,
    Kalianne

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  12. Oh Pamela, I do know exactly what you mean!
    We just got home from two weeks in the highlands and there is nothing quite like Scottish rain!x

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  13. What a gorgeous read. I find the rain incredibly romantic and calming (sans thunder and lightning!).
    I remember being on Coll (outer Hebrides) and
    walking on the most beautiful beach with a light rain
    on us and thinking "this is perfect".

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  14. I love the rain and agree that we sometimes act like it's dreadful! Why do we scrunch up when we should open our mouths and drink it in?! By the by, Happy Anniversary!

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  15. I always love to visit London, where rain is a daily occurrence and everyone seems to be always prepared with an umbrella tucked away, but ready to be pulled out at a moment's notice.

    Last summer, I spent a blissful 10 days in London (and Paris too) to celebrate my grandmother's 90th (she is British); one of my favorite days was when I went on a self-guided walking tour of Kensington, and it poured the entire time!

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  16. You are quite right, P. In Scotland folks seem not to worry about an umbrella, particularly in the highlands. But I'm one of those soft types who prefer to keep the droplets off!

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  17. Ah you evoked magic memories for me, and driving over the bridge to Skye on a very rainy day.

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  18. I'm one of those squealing women caught in the rain without an umbrella, not because I don't like the rain, but because of what it will do to my coiffure. Once wet my hair will begin its march to crazy. And not crazy good I can assure you. Large untidy flips and mushroom poofs...that is what my hair will look like.

    Love your elegant illustration. Where in the world did you find such an exquisite picture?

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  19. Hi Pamela,

    You might want to pop over to visit http://rowanspatch.blogspot.com/, a new post about rain in Skye!

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  20. And my dear American blogger friend, Sara from California just loved the rain when here.

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  21. And my dear American blogger friend, Sara from California just loved the rain when here.

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  22. I see there is method inyour madness pamela. I too am one of those odd creatures who love rain and a goodly storm to blow the cobwebs from my soul. i love scotch mist and a good steady rain, a summer storm that rebounds a foot off the pavement and forms waterfalls as it spills over the top of my shoes. The only gift from heaven I am wary of is hailstones larger than a pea, post marble size impell me towards shelter.
    As always, I am enchanted with your thoughts and prose.

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  23. That was truly lovely Pamela! I enjoyed it so much, I feel so relaxed now I wish it would rain so I could go onthe porch a take a nap to its music!

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  24. I read your blog today after turning my computer back on following advertised hail, 65 mile an hour winds, black skies and rain that fell in thick sheets. I don't think the hail happened but everything else did. My husband home for lunch, drenched without umbrella has learned to speak my language, "Won't have to water the garden today!" Is Edward fearful of storms?

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  25. I am a lover of rain and get withdrawal symptoms if too many days pass without it. I love the sound of it too when I am indoors. It may be my Irish blood, all the females in my family love it. I never cover up either if it is raining, there is nothing like it for the complexion!

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  26. We love rain too Pamela! And umbrellas. Sometimes I like to carry my umbrella still folded when it is pouring with rain - it seems rather mischievous somehow!

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  27. I feel like a little girl sitting on the edge of my seat everytime I come by for a visit. It is like our very own storyteller. Enjoy my friend! xoxo

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  28. The colour on that lady's hat is an absolutely divine shade of blue.

    Ask anyone and they will have a special 'rain' memory. Oftentimes it will be romantic to boot!

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  29. As long as I have wellington boots, hooded coat and a sturdy umbrella I'll walk in the rain and jump in the puddles but if I get my hair wet I get distressed:) It is raining so hard here today that the road outside our house has become a river and we can't hear each other speak over the sound of the rain hitting the conservatory roof. Great words, Pamela and a wonderful illustration - if I could look like that in the rain I'd never be indoors!

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  30. I do love the rain. Which is just as well, as Ireland is much like Scotland on that front. The Irish too tend to not dress for the weather as I do believe, in spite everything, we are optimists when it comes to the weather if nothing else. (I too have a magnificent black Victorian number that is sadly neglected!)

    However, it's when we get the sun that we bask and marvel at Mother Nature.

    I wouldn't mind a bit more balance though!

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  31. I do love the rain. Which is just as well, as Ireland is much like Scotland on that front. The Irish too tend to not dress for the weather as I do believe, in spite everything, we are optimists when it comes to the weather if nothing else. (I too have a magnificent black Victorian number that is sadly neglected!)

    However, it's when we get the sun that we bask and marvel at Mother Nature.

    I wouldn't mind a bit more balance though!

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  32. Great words. I love a good walk in the rain with a sturdy umbrella. So nice.

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  33. Firstly a very Happy Anniversary to you and Edward Pamela. Your first year seems to have gone as quickly as mine.

    Love your umbrella post. I had to laugh at the Americans in rain. The English are a bit like that too. Over here you either love it or hate it. Personally I enjoy rain. I hate it when we have a heatwave and everything gets dry and dessicated, including me. Celtic ancestry means you enjoy a "soft day" as the Irish put it. Looking out of the window now it is quite "soft" out there...lol.

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  34. Got to run errands in the rain today. I promise, I did not squeal at any point.

    Well, maybe a little when I got in the car and the wet umbrella opened onto my bare legs and I couldn't get it to close...

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  35. Thanks for visiting me on Scotland4theSenses. Oh, what a wonderful blog this is. I love the richness of your writing. So happy to have found you.

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  36. When we lived in Wales we only counted the rain which was able to bounce off the ground and hit you on the way up, as real rain. The rest was just heavy mist. LOL Have you read any of Alexander Mc Call Smith's books based in Scotland? I think you would like his description of Jura.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!