a few weeks into the month of june, people were wondering, “i thought it was supposed to be rainy season? then why is it so damn hot?” i should know, i was one of those who were wondering about the same thing. not that i’m complaining, i guess i’m just used to have the thinking that when june starts, rain also starts to fall from the sky. then towards the end of july, the weather started to turn weird. in a single day, it would rain and shine about three or four times, usually one right after the other. then, as you may have noticed, during the past two weeks, the sun had hidden itself amongst the clouds, it’s powerful rays blocked by sheer thickness of rain and moisture.

i actually liked what has happened during the past few days. although there are really inconveniences when it’s raining (it can’t be helped–like flooding, having difficulty getting public transport, roads getting potholes, increased traffic, and of course, sickness) i actually look forward to hearing the sound of rain hitting the rooftops, especially when i’m at home. for some reason, it helps me relax most especially after i arrive home from work in the afternoon. I also think that rain sets the mood for a lot of things. my favorite is on a rainy day-off, instead of watching tv or surfing the net, i go to my room, bag of chips and beverage in hand, and scatter all my cd’s on the bed and play laid back, easy listening music (most preferably ballads starting from the late 80’s and beyond from reo speedwagon, cheap trick, john waite, tom petty, dave matthews, tears for fears, tom scott, glass tiger, john mayer–just to name a few) while sitting cozily on the couch, put my feet up and chow down some chips while jamming (unfortunately, my room doesn’t have space for a couch so i guess my bed would have to do). that for me, is the ultimate stress-reliever. thinking of nothing but the tunes that i hear, enjoying the melodies of instruments playing in harmony, tapping my feet or nodding my head to the beat of the song in the background during mid-morning or mid-afternoon (makes me miss my drum-playing stint back in high school). at that point in time, i could manage to smile and say to myself, “it’s all good.”

on the other hand, rain makes certain people nostalgic. i also have, on a number of occasions, reflect or reminisce personal events, especially when it’s raining hard outside and the electricity is out. and it sometimes coincides with something that has happened to you which affected you emotionally (say a breakup or a fight you had with a significant other). it’s like the heavens are empathizing with how you feel and rain is the mode of comfort you’re being given. it is in these times that i want to have such artists as diana reeves, melissa manchester, julia fordham, james ingram, patti austin, lani hall, michael buble, and even kenny g playing in the background. their songs make you feel more pain to the point of breaking down and crying. but as they say, after the rain, comes the sunshine. no matter how much sorrow you have, or pain you felt, in time, like rain, it’ll all go away and the warmth of the sun and the chirping of the birds beckons you to move on and start over. this is, how a cliche comes to call it, how life goes on.

let me end this simple entry with the lyrics of one of my all-time favorite songs which i frequently listen not just on rainy days, but also when i’m driving or when i just need a feel-good song to listen to. the words are very simple, yet the way the music was brought together makes it for a beat and rhythm so light-hearted yet soulful that listening to it once is not enough. i’m having LSS (last song syndrome) because of it. anyway, hope everyone has a good weekend ahead!

How Do You Talk To An Angel
The Heights

I Hear Her Voice In My Mind

I Know Her Face By Heart

Heaven And Earth Are Moving In My Soul

I Don’t Know Where To Start

Tell Me Tell Me

The Words To Define

The Way I Feel About Someone So Fine

How Do You Talk To An Angel

How Do You Hold Her Close To Where You Are

How Do You Talk To An Angel

It’s Like Trying To Catch A Falling Star

At Night I Dream

That She Is There

When I Can’t Feel Her In The Air

Tell Me Tell Me

The Words To Define

The Way I Feel About Someone So Fine

How Do You Talk To An Angel

How Do You Hold Her Close To Where You Are

How Do You Talk To An Angel

It’s Like Trying To Catch A Falling Star

How Do You Talk To An Angel

How Do You Hold Her Close To Where You Are

How Do You Talk To An Angel

It’s Like Trying To Catch A Falling Star

How Do You Talk To An Angel

How Do You Hold Her Close To Where You Are

How Do You Talk To An Angel

It’s Like Trying To Catch A Falling Star

Yeah

Yeah Oh…..