It's the kind of day that keeps soup makers and melancholy poets in business. The blanket of clouds hanging above Nashville is endless. How interesting that a cloud mass is often compared to a blanket, since certain types of clouds, like those lingering today, make me want to curl up in a fuzzy one and drift off.
Instead of bunnies, dragons, and lawnmowers in the clouds, I was noticing coffee mugs slowly drifting overhead while running errands today. After braving the crowded streets jammed with holiday shoppers, I decided that walking 5 minutes or so to the Whole Foods coffee counter near our apartment would calm my craving for a tasty, hot beverage. And caffeine.
How lovely that 3 minutes into my walk, a fine misty rain began. A cold, sticky misty rain. Just a few weeks ago, on a 5-minute walk in Honolulu I would have likely encountered a little rain.Toto, we're not in Hawaii anymore.
The rain in Honolulu is mostly like a gathering of sweat, just enough to make you glow and highlight your features. The rain in Honolulu is typically accompanied by (not followed by, mind you, but usually accompanied by) a rainbow. Or two. Another amazing side effect of rain in Hawaii is waterfalls. I love the wispy kind that resemble Rapunzel letting down her hair.
The rain in Nashville seeps into the skin and chills the bottom layers of your skin, so that the dampness takes a while to wear off. But, to be fair, the rain in Nashville sits on the hilltops, barely letting the bare trees stay visible. The rain in Nashville allows the hot hazelnut latte to warm my palms and my cheeks.
I have been missing the sights of Hawaii more than anything else since moving back to Nashville. There are no doubts in my mind that moving back wasn't the absolute right choice for us. However, I honestly miss parts of Hawaii like I miss a really, really good friend. I find myself thinking about driving on the pali between cliffs as high as skyscrapers, so verdant and majestic. I miss the shades of the ocean, blues and greens found no where else. I miss the constant warm breeze. I miss the waves.
I believe it's true that when leaving Hawaii some of the spirit of Aloha followed me. I hope I carry it with me for all the rest of my days.
