The showers continued, and everything was soaked. Days before the earth had absorbed all the moisture it needed, and puddles formed in every indentation. Children splashed like little ducks enjoying the spring rain.

Older folks stood in line at the grocery checkouts complaining about the incessant

rain, but some of them would have complained just as much if the sun were shining bright. Some folks just need something to complain about, and the weather is as good a topic as any.

The forecast called for rain for several days to come, but the lady in the red dress smiled as she went about her business, listening to the comments of those she came in contact with. She smiled as if she had a wonderful secret that no one else knew, and indeed she did. Her trip to London was coming up, and she would meet her friend from high school there.

She had always wanted to travel abroad. When she and one of her best friends reconnected on Facebook, she was delighted to find Judy living in England. She thought it would be such fun to reconnect with this longtime friend and live precariously through her as she shared pictures of her London apartment. Then when Judy invited her for a visit, the lady in red jumped at the chance.

They say it rains quite a bit in London, so this is just a little trial run, she thought to herself. Suddenly, the rain, coming down like bullets, pelted her coat, and she ran for cover. After completing her shopping for the day and checking out a travel book from the public library, she settled down to dream of the much anticipated trip. She could have looked online but loved to snuggle under the covers with a good book on a rainy day.

As I sit in the public library using one of their computers because mine is on the blink I realize that instead of writing a column this sounds like the beginning of a novel or short story. I guess the rainy day and looking at all the folks around me got me on a dreamy track.

I would love to travel abroad someday. My travels outside the country have thus far been limited to Mexico. It must be time to plan a trip, and I do love the color red.

Enjoy your rainy days for the chance to slow down for a minute and just take it all in.

Jan Penton Miller can be reached at lilsisjan@yahoo.com.