2008 Woodie Awards
Anticipate the rain,
Jeffrey Riley
Issue date: 6/26/08 Section: Opinions
We have reached that time of year once again, the time of year when every day is blistering hot and every afternoon you can set your watch to the downfall from above.
Yes, the Florida rainy season. One minute it seems like the skies are blue and clear, the next it has the appearance of an impending scene of destruction. Blasts of lightning spark doom-filled skies the same time every day.
Not only do these torrential downpours happen every day, it does this every single summer. If you have lived in Florida for any amount of time, you should already know and understand just how bad it can get.
Weirdly though, every time I happen to be around campus during the daily downpour, I always see people "trapped" under awnings and inside doorways, waiting for the rain to end.
I don't understand how people can be trapped without an umbrella in this situation.
It is not like the rain is a surprise at all. It does this nearly every day. At this point, being caught off guard by the rain in the afternoon is sort of like being really shocked that the sun set last night.
The daily storm is a refreshing thing. Despite the destructive power that the lightning packs, by the time the clouds roll around, I am ready for a change from the sweltering heat.
The daytime temperature is another interesting aspect that is distinctly Floridian. I am sure there are other places on Earth with the same level of excruciating heat and rainforest-like humidity, but none of those places have that same character and charm.
And nothing makes you feel like you are melting like the Wicked Witch in water like Florida's character and charm.
Just like I don't quite get people who are trapped by the rain, I don't understand people who complain about the heat.
This is Florida. Every summer we go through heat waves, and every summer I have to hear people talk about how absurdly warm it is.
I consider the summer heat to be a cleansing of the state. It forces those who only want the state for the mild winters to go back to wherever it is they come from, and lets us natives sweat on our own.
The stark contrast between the heat and the rain is what makes us who we are. It may be uncomfortable for a while, but if you survive it, you should wear it like a badge of honor - and remember to bring your umbrella. d
Yes, the Florida rainy season. One minute it seems like the skies are blue and clear, the next it has the appearance of an impending scene of destruction. Blasts of lightning spark doom-filled skies the same time every day.
Not only do these torrential downpours happen every day, it does this every single summer. If you have lived in Florida for any amount of time, you should already know and understand just how bad it can get.
Weirdly though, every time I happen to be around campus during the daily downpour, I always see people "trapped" under awnings and inside doorways, waiting for the rain to end.
I don't understand how people can be trapped without an umbrella in this situation.
It is not like the rain is a surprise at all. It does this nearly every day. At this point, being caught off guard by the rain in the afternoon is sort of like being really shocked that the sun set last night.
The daily storm is a refreshing thing. Despite the destructive power that the lightning packs, by the time the clouds roll around, I am ready for a change from the sweltering heat.
The daytime temperature is another interesting aspect that is distinctly Floridian. I am sure there are other places on Earth with the same level of excruciating heat and rainforest-like humidity, but none of those places have that same character and charm.
And nothing makes you feel like you are melting like the Wicked Witch in water like Florida's character and charm.
Just like I don't quite get people who are trapped by the rain, I don't understand people who complain about the heat.
This is Florida. Every summer we go through heat waves, and every summer I have to hear people talk about how absurdly warm it is.
I consider the summer heat to be a cleansing of the state. It forces those who only want the state for the mild winters to go back to wherever it is they come from, and lets us natives sweat on our own.
The stark contrast between the heat and the rain is what makes us who we are. It may be uncomfortable for a while, but if you survive it, you should wear it like a badge of honor - and remember to bring your umbrella. d