today, i was at a local office for a meeting. the garage, unfortunately, only accepts cash. as i pulled into the garage, i knew that at some point i was going to have to run to the bank to get some money. luckily, there's a bank about 3 blocks from the office. once i wrapped up the meeting, i finished up some notes to myself, packed up, and made my way to the bank. at this point, the sky was quickly becoming black.
sidenote: there are several things, i hate about living in dc. 1) summers are hot, muggy, and generally disgusting. it's like walking through a swamp. a 5 minute walk to the metro really feels like, a 11.5 hour wimbledon tennis match. so, isner, i don't feel for you. that's how sweaty and exhausted i feel just walking to the train. it's totally the same. trust me.
so here i am, in my 3 inch heels, walking as fast as my little barbie stilettos will allow me. and about 1 block away, as i'm standing there, waiting for the pedestrian light to grant me permission to cross the street, i feel the first trickle of rain. and from trickle, we move on into full fledged monsoon. i run. cars be damned, i am not standing on the sidewalk. i run into the bank to get the cash and am just staring out the window. how am i going to get back to my car? slowly, i find myself with a group of patrons. we're all staring out the window. we look like kids who were just told there'd be no recess. pitiful. so since, i'm stranded, i start chatting it up with the bankers.
sidenote: lately, i find that i'm starting up conversations with strangers. i take this as a clear sign that i'm aging....or turning into my father....or both (i love you dad).
ok, back to the bankers. one of them offers me an umbrella. she says, take this and bring it back whenever. i tell her, i'm just down the street a few blocks so once i pick up my car i'll drive back to return the umbrella. again, she insists, "don't worry about it. bring it back whenever". with umbrella in hand, i sit back down in the chair at the bank. umbrella or not, it's a monsoon. i'm not going out there unless you put me in a hazmat suit. it dies down a little and i decide to make a run for it. as i walk towards the door, this little old lady looks at me with puppy dog eyes. she speaks little english so when i ask her if she wants to share the umbrella with me, she says, "to car." her car was just in the bank lot so i walked here there and went on my way. i figured if the bank was nice enough to lend me an umbrella, i might as well pay it forward (and, maybe pocket a little good karma for the day). you're welcome, universe. so how does the universe repay me? i walk into an enormous puddle (lake) and now my feet are sopping. also, because i was sharing the umbrella, the entire left side of my body is soaking wet. huddling under my umbrella, trying my best to not get the laptop in my purse wet, i managed to make it safely to my car and pay the dumb garage fee.
there are a couple morals to this story - 1) always carry an umbrella, 2) do not wear open toe shoes when the forecast calls for rain, 3) always makes your husband leave you money and, finally, 4) be awesome and nice (like me).
