Holding ones breath

Well I consider us incredibly lucky, this weekend there was not a smidgen or even a hint of rain. Without a single cloud in the sky and weather upwards of 68 degrees it was an absolutely perfect weekend. Saturday was spent with a friend touring Golden Gate park and some of the gardens available to the public, not to mention the Haight-Ashbury district with its eclectic collection of shops and restaurants. Who would have known, it is all located maybe a 20 minute walk, 7 minute bike ride or a 30 minute drive (driving in the city is clearly not the most efficient means of transportation)? Sunday was spent with another friend her kids (and a tag-along) touring through the ever impressive and spacious San Francisco Zoo. Lions tigers and bears, oh cool! The highlight of the zoo was a mix between the sand box at the playground and the merry-go-round, is it possible that kids really appreciate the smaller things in life and we should learn something from them?

But here is the key, through all of this there was just beautiful weather, which is a massive relief considering the fact it has been raining here almost daily for the past couple of months. Here is where the irony kicks in, first thing Monday morning around 8:30, the skies opened up and a torrential rainfall came down and barely let up until evening. It is as if someone up above was holding their breath to provide a wonderful weekend and then as if they could not hold it any longer, just let it all out. It is still raining today.

However all is not gloomy, due to unusual environmental conditions the bay area was treated to one of the most gorgeous rainbows to be seen for miles around. The conditions include a very strong front of moderately heavy rain followed by a patch of cloudless sky where the sun shown through as strong as a hot august day. The effect was a near perfect rainbow that extended fully over an entire arch embracing the city. Every color (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Indigo and Violet if you were curious) was as strong as a pallet in a painter’s shop with a clear space for each one. The colors were brilliant and people at a shopping center I was parked at were standing in the rain looking upwards in awe and amazement. The rain on the face and shoulders were forgotten as we once again appreciated beauty that can not be captured or recreated with money, must just be appreciated in its rare and wonderful natural form.

Then just as quickly as it appeared, the patch of sun was swallowed by the clouds and the rainbow was lost. People quickly went back to their shopping, or scolding their kids, or honking at the car in front of them as if nothing ever happen.