Wandering around is one of the joys of visiting a new city. With no real agenda, and no timeline to dictate where you go and what you do. That was my Sunday morning in Austin after BlogHerFood. After two days of sessions and chit-chat, which for me doesn’t always come easily, I was ready for some quiet time to just be in my own head.
Of course, Sunday morning the skies were heavy with clouds and they were calling for possible thundershowers. I threw on my sneakers and headed out a little after 7:30 a.m. for coffee. Even at that hour, the humidity lays on you like a wet blanket, weighing down everything.
I live in Seattle, we don’t do umbrellas.
After coffee and kolache, I’m back out on the street.
The wind is picking up, a breeze that whiffs away the stickiness. I pass a runner, I wander up the street, stop in for tortillas, and then as I’m standing on the corner waiting to cross, a few drops fall. There’s a faint roll of thunder in the distance. A big black rectangle of something comes flying off the overpass. Accident? Then, holy downpour, it’s a sheet of water. Pelting. Arms.And.Face.And.Hair. When is the light going to change?!!
I’m from California. Even if I have an umbrella, I never know where it is.
Relentless. Drenching. And the tortillas……..are in a PAPER BAG.
Finally I cross and take cover, pausing under a metal awning and the onslaught continues, wave after wave, louder and louder, like thousands of nails pounding against the metal. The air is charged and for a few minutes I just stand there, soaking. And soaking it all up.
I sprint back to Easy Tiger to wait it out with a cup of coffee. “They say it might stick around ‘til 11,” says the guy behind the counter. Perched at the bar, I sip my latte with my hair plastered against my head. Even in a ponytail, there’s no saving it. Pecking away on my iPhone, capturing the beginnings of this moment.
Maybe 20 minutes go by. It’s starting to let up.
Bless your heart, says Mother Nature. Girl from Seattle or California or wherever, you ain’t seen rain ‘til you’ve seen a Texas rainstorm.
Melissa
June 12, 2013 at 10:46 amHey Michelle! Sounds like you had quite the adventure on Sunday. I think I managed to sleep in while that rainstorm came & went. It was really great to meet you (briefly…near the charging stations) at BlogHer Food. It was such a whirlwind of people, sessions, swag & parties. I agree, it was nice to decompress after. Your site is really beautiful…great photography and thoughtful writing. Hope you found the conference to be useful?
I make it up to Seattle for work every now & then…it would be fun to grab coffee next time I’m in town, if you’re up for it? Likewise, do let me know if you ever make it down to SF!
Michelle
June 12, 2013 at 1:19 pmGreat meeting you, too! What did you do w/ the rest of Sunday? I wouldn’t have minded a couple more days in town, so many places I never got to check out. If you do make your way up here, definitely shoot me a note, I’d love to grab coffee. And thanks for stopping by the blog! 🙂