On most days, I kind of like the rain. Especially a warm summer rain or a thunderstorm. I love curling up and watching the lightning flash across the sky, and listening to the boom booms. (What? Sometimes I’m still five.)
However, walking to work in the rain, even just a light rain, presents its very own set of obstacles.
1) The Beautiful-On-A-Nice-Day-But-Treacherous-When-Wet Brick Sidewalks
Now, I know that this isn’t an obstacle for everyone, but I have a few things working against me here. First, I like to walk fast. In fact, it generally pains me to walk slowly – unless I’m stumbling. Second, I like to wear flip flops to work, as they are far more comfortable for a 25-minute walk than heels are. The traction, however, is sub-par. Third, the first few blocks of my commute are downhill and brick. And brick sidewalks get surprisingly slippery when wet. I haven’t wiped out yet (knock on wood), but I’m pretty sure that’s only because I shuffle along – adding what feels like forever to the commute.
2) The Look-At-Those-Suckers-Walking Watch-This Driver
Those puddles that pool by the side of the road? They’re like a magnet for drivers who are either bored on the drive into work, or annoyed at being stuck in traffic – or both. And when an innocent pedestrian is walking by, I understand the urge to see if that whole super splash effect really works. I just wish that I’d never been the recipient.
Corners are especially dangerous, since you can get hit from multiple angles.
3) The I’m-In-My-Own-World-And-Nobody-Else-Matters Umbrella User
This is possibly the most dangerous obstacle of all on the walk to work – or really, when you walk anywhere in the rain. I know you know exactly who I’m talking about. It’s the twit with the big ass umbrella. The one who conveniently forgets there are other people on the sidewalk and never shifts her umbrella up or to the side, to accommodate passersby. The one who scratches the side of your face or catches your hair with that one bare spoke. And then she glares at you because how dare you got in her way. Do I sound bitter? I’m not. Not really.
But I may have had to uncover one of my spokes just as pure defense.
