Rain. What's a rainy day? Good for the plants. Breaks the humidity. Dreary. Can't mow the lawn, go to the beach, send the kids outside. Even depressing.  But bonding?  That I didn't expect...

Lots of people of all shapes and sizes and ages walk in my neighborhood when the weather is decent. I see them as they come and go by the front of our house, and I see them when I'm out walking myself, accompanied by our Lab mix Abby. We have a few elderly Asian couples that walk in the neighborhood, and sometimes I'll see an elderly Asian man or Asian woman walking alone, but unlike most of the other walkers who smile, nod or say hello, the Asian walkers keep to themselves. I may offer a small smile, but they generally don't look up or over, and I respectfully let them be, knowing good and well walking is often as much meditation as it is exercise. We don't connect at all, and that's okay.

But something changed in the rain today. Abby and I set out this morning under overcast skies just starting to spit. Before I was out of the driveway, I realized I should have at least grabbed a baseball cap in defense of what could turn into a full-out rain, but it was warm enough, so I figured the worst that could happen was the yoga pants and T-shirt I was going to exercise in when I got home would get wet. Sure enough, by the time Abby and I had finished our circuit through the neighborhood and round the conservation land field, it was raining. As I approached the turn to my street, I looked up and saw an elderly Asian man walking toward me, equipped with the baseball hat I had neglected to put on. I started my small insignificant smile, ready to look quickly and respectfully away, when to my surprise, he raised his hand in a friendly wave, smiled broadly and gave me a rather boisterous, "Hi." He didn't have to tell me why we were suddenly so akin. We were the only people in evidence during my entire 30-minute walk. Who walks when it's raining, for goodness sake? And without a raincoat, or even a hat? I wasn't just another fair-weather walker anymore, a single-element sun girl. I was a dedicated, everyday walker, an unmeltable multi-element girl.

I gave him a big smile back, and called out in true American fashion, "How 'ya doin?" He bobbed his head back in pleased agreement. We knew. Brought together on this rainy day, we were both doin' just fine.