It was a rainy afternoon - sweet thoughts.

gaymen2
Aug 14
5 min read

Updated: Aug 16

It was a rainy October afternoon in a small town in Ohio.

Found on the internet some where:- The high school gym was packed with parents, students, and teachers, all waiting for the annual awards ceremony to begin. I was in the crowd, barely holding myself together. My mom was in the hospital, and I wasn’t sure if she’d make it through the night. The weight of that uncertainty made the day feel like a heavy fog pressing down on me.I wasn’t expecting anything special from the ceremony—just a few quick acknowledgments and then home to sit by my mother’s bedside. But then, something strange happened.Right as I took my seat near the back, a man quietly slipped in beside me. He wasn’t dressed like the other guests—no suits, no ties—just a simple jacket and jeans. His face looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Then, a teacher whispered to me, “That’s Tom Hanks.” Tom Hanks, the actor known worldwide for his kindness and humanity in films, was sitting right there next to me—no cameras, no fans swarming him. He looked over and gave me a small nod, as if to say, “I’m here.” The ceremony began, and the speeches were made. But what I remember most isn’t the words spoken on stage. It was the quiet moment during the break when Tom leaned over and said, “Sometimes life doesn’t go how we want it to, but you’re stronger than you think.” No one else seemed to notice him, and he didn’t stay long after. He simply stood, shook my hand, and left as quietly as he had arrived. That simple act of kindness—the unexpected presence of someone I admired in a moment of deep pain—changed how I remembered that day. It wasn’t just a rainy day filled with fear and uncertainty anymore. It became a day I learned hope can arrive quietly, without fanfare, in the form of a stranger’s kindness. Years later, whenever I face hard times, I think of that moment. And it reminds me to be that quiet kindness for someone else, without expecting recognition or reward.

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It was pouring with rain when I saw her. This little old lady, all dobled over with Widow's Hump was pushing her shopping basket on wheels through the rain and struggling with an umbrella at the same time. Without even thinking I ran over and asked if I could at least hold the brolley over her and she looked startled at first, then this great smile filled her whole face as she said ' Oh how kind of you.'

She told me she was 89 and how her 92 year old husband ( married for 70 years ) had just been returned home after a week in a hospital and she had to get his medication from Boots before it closed. I was astounded the hospital did not deliver the medication to his house, and when we got served in Boots I complained - gently but firmly - and asked why this service was not offered, and even the pharmacy guy was astounded. Withing 15 minutes I had it all arranged that ALL medications, for them both, would be delivered weekly in a special day to day pill box and the old dear was delighted. The service Boots claimed to offer was only available after you complained. ( Boots has gone right down hill since Walgreens - from America - bought into it. )

When we left Boots I walked her home and while it was still pouring with rain, she said ' Oh the day does seem so much brighter now I have met you.'

As I live nearby, I now pop in two or three times a week just to keep an eye and check on them both.

If It wasn't raining, I probably would not have met her.

Michael J.

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I was soaked through. Chilled to the bone. Looking for my dog who had run off after a clap of thunder and I saw her go. Like a bolt out of the blue, thunder clapped and off she went. I followed as fast as I could but she was just - gone. I kept calling her name and either she played deaf or she smply didn't hear me out of fear.

Being a Mother Hen, I worry - and could not go home until I found my dog and with it raining so hard by now, I was soaked through. Went and sat in the car thinking what was the best thing to do, and decided to drive home ( all of 5 minutes away ) and wait until someone found her and rang from the number on her collar, plus she is chipped.

Got home, soaked through, to find her sat in the open garage all cosy in a pile of laundry and wagged her tail all gleefully when she saw me - and I was gobsmacked.

So all that time I was plodding around in the pouring rain calling for her, she had run home and was all dry and cosy - much to my releif but also MUCH to my annoyance.

My girlfriend laughed when she saw this bedraggled wet thing ( me ) coming into the house and taking clothes off in the kitchen so not to soak the house, and as I stood there naked, shivvering and wrapped in just a bath towel, we did share a laugh and my dog, bless her, jumped up as if to say' Sorry Mom, '- and lesson learned. She does not like the rain.

Margo L. ( I read your newsletter despite it is aimed at men )

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It had been hot and sunny for the last 4 months. Acapulco in the winter months is an average of 90' day after day with no changes in sight.

Perfect.

But it did get boring after some months and you pray for some rain, a cooler day, anything from the constant hot sunshine.

Went up the mountais to Oaxaca - and while having lunch at the hotel in a polapa in the grounds - it rained, and I mean IT RAINED - it went so dark all the hotel lights were switched on and thunder clapped, lightening lit the sky and boy - did it rain. We sat not 6 feet from the torrent - having lunch in the dry, and the smell of the rain was beautiful.

Back in the UK living I miss those long hot sunny summer months - and now do not miss the rain as we get enough, but I still love watching it. JB

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I can stare at this picture for hours, or better yet, sit and watch the rain - from indoors in the warm and dry, for hours. It is so cathartic, so restful and so healing for mind, body and soul. Even thunder and lightening, love it. Mother nature showing us what she can do and how feeble anything we can do in return.