Watching the Rain

We've been through a lot in the past year and many of us, myself included, are looking for ways to escape the mental stress. So I've started writing stories where... not a lot happens. Soothing little stories that will hopefully help you to relax. If you'd like an audio accompaniment, put on some headphones and listen to Heavy Rain on Porch of Old House at Night.

Vondelstraat is a narrow, picturesque street in the heart of Amsterdam. At its heart, lies the beautiful Gothic-style Vondelkerk. Once a working church, this delightful spired building now houses offices and work spaces as well as using the large former church space for everything from weddings to concerts. The black-topped spire towers over the surrounding houses, all of which are built in the tall, slender style that we know, and love, so well.

This glorious street is lined with trees which, at the height of summer, shelter the redbrick road from the intensity of the sun. Beyond the tall houses is Vondelpark, one of the city's many green spaces. Several lakes and fountains are dotted around the park and, during the sunnier, warmer months, the area is filled with people enjoying the warmth.

53 Vondelstraat is home to a little cafe. Vines twist their way up the building's exterior, nearly hiding it from view. Pot plants of bright flowers dot the window ledges and nestle beside. The rich smell of coffee hangs in the air and there is an array of colourful and tasty treats on offer. Cakes with names you've never heard of and crisp pastries dusted with chocolate or fine sugar.

You step inside and the atmosphere is one of calm and serenity. A long, wooden counter runs along the length of one wall with glass cabinets full of delicious looking food. The ceiling hosts wooden beams. Artwork from local artists hangs on the white walls and a painting of sun-dappled forest catches your eye. You decide to purchase it once you've finished your coffee.

Rustic wooden tables are dotted throughout the narrow room. On the left a set of stairs winds up to the living quarters. Footsteps creak across the ceiling and you wonder who could be upstairs. Maybe children playing now that school is finished for the summer?

A few people sit at the tables and gentle music fills the background. The tension seeps from your shoulders as you order a drink and settle into the slower pace of life. Nothing moves quickly and the street appears to be at peace with itself.

Your coffee mug is handed to you and you decide to sit on the patio in front of the slender building. A clutch of tables rest beneath a white awning. You place your mug on one of the tables and sit on the wooden chair. Your feet rest on cobbles and, directly before you, trees stretch into the sky. Wisps of warm breeze tickle the leaves and make them softly rustle.

With your legs stretched out and your hands wrapped around the mug, you enjoy the tranquility of the area. Birds sing in the trees and the occasional person walks along the street. You can just about hear people enjoying themselves in the park. Dark clouds begin to drift across the sky but you're not worried. You're comfortable and safe beneath the awning. The day is perfect for a summer shower and you can already smell the earthly scent of incoming rain.

The coffee is a nectar to your weary body. Its aroma and bitter taste evoke memories of other travels. Rome, Paris, and Barcelona all come to mind. Places that are filled with wonder and beauty, enriching the mind and living in the heart for years to come.

The breeze settles and the air becomes still. There's an expectancy in the atmosphere and you allow yourself to get more comfortable in order to watch nature's show. Rain begins to gently patter on the awning and you take a deep breath of the new mossy scent. Slowly the heat of the day begins to disappear and the haze that had hung over the city begins to settle. The air becomes clearer and you feel a tingle play along your spine. There's something magical about having absolutely nothing to do except to watch the rain.

Raindrops slide from the trees and to the dusty cobbles below, forming pools and rivers in the mortar that surrounds them. The sound is soothing and you find yourself drifting into a state of deep relaxation. Your coffee is all but forgotten and you thank yourself for stopping in such a picturesque spot.

Thunder murmurs in the distance and the steady stream of rain forms a curtain between you and the outside world. A car trundles along the road. Cries of joy can be heard from the park as the first rain of the summer washes away the heavy heat.

Rain has a symbolism all of its own. Rather than being seen as a dank and depressing time, rain brings joy and the thought of new beginnings. The old is washed away to reveal the new. Spending time sitting and watching the rain is time that isn't wasted.

Cocooned beneath the awning and with the darkness of the clouds casting an early evening feel over the day, you ponder on how loved you feel in that moment. In love with the world; in love with where you are; and in love with yourself. Happiness flows through you and fills you with warmth as you hunker down. You know that you could spend the rest of the day in that one spot just watching the rain, and the world, go by.

Puddles of water have formed beside the kerb. Droplets ripple through them and flickers of sunlight dance across the surface. Streaks of a rainbow are starting to paint themselves across the clouds. Beyond the striking colours, the sun is beginning to ease itself through the clouds.

You inhale the clear, rain-washed air and draw it deep into your lungs. You can feel the atmosphere washing through you as it cleanses and reinvigorates you.

As the rain eases, you finish your coffee. Serenity has settled over you and you feel calm and at peace. You return the mug to the cafe and pause for a moment to listen to the lilting music that filters from hidden speakers. You purchase the painting that you fell in love with and make your way back out into the fresh sunlight. The painting, now wrapped in brown paper and twine, is a reminder of a joyous afternoon spent relaxing in the rain.

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