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If you ask the locals around Seattle, they would agree with each other that, more often than not, everywhere is wet. They aren’t wrong. Nine months out of the year, gray clouds spread over the Seattle sky, casting a dark, majestic blanket that will dump buckets of water on the heads of people in the city. However, you’ll probably notice their tone isn’t condescending. They aren’t jumping out of their seats when they feel the first rain drop splash them uncomfortably in the eye, but they welcome the rain. To these folk, the rain stays the same. It doesn’t matter if it is drizzling outside, or dumping buckets worse than a monsoon. The rain feels the same on the soul. So besides drops of water, what is rain in Seattle?

Is the rain music? When the night is dark, the rain plays a harmony that eases the troubled mind. Whispers of work the next day, or a break up that happened a few hours ago, will begin to flow away with every drop that hits the earth, like a piano beginning a symphony. The mind uses the rain as an instrument to express emotion, allowing rain to make music no matter where you are. The taps of rain hitting glass provides the rhythm, and your thoughts provide the lyrics. You can sing a song as fast or slow as you want, but the beat remains the same. Songs echo thoughts of pain, thoughts of gain, and thoughts of shame. If the rain is an instrument, should those feelings follow? With all this rain, it explains why Seattle is so renowned for music.

Is the rain a game? I remember lacing my cleats for so many different sports: baseball, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, and by the time I got home, my cleats would be soaked. Yes I was running hard, and before you ask, no, I was not sweating that profusely from my feet. Everyday, whether it was after school, a weekend tournament, or a pick up game, the rain would fill my shoes with water. I could feel my feet pruning and getting heavier with every step. Kind of gross, I know, but in a way, I absolutely loved it because it made me faster when I took my cleats off. The rain would shower in front of me, distorting my vision. When I ran, I sometimes thought I was running in strobe lights. When it poured on the field, I appreciated the coolness of the rain when things were getting hot. Overall, I would say the rain was a good teammate.  

So is the rain a friend? Surely this cannot be because the rain does not have a mouth to speak with. Yet, a dog is a man’s best friend, and aside from Scooby Doo and Brian from Family Guy, dogs did not speak to humans. There is a strong relationship that we share with the rain that the people in Seattle have been able to experience first-hand. We would rather have the sun, but we all know the rain does us more good than harm.

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A song about rain!

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Greetings From the Best Volcano in Washington

Hello. I’m Mt. Rainier. A glorious volcano that is apart of the Cascade Mountain family. We are a lot bigger than our eastern rivals, the laughable hills, the Appalachians. Size does matter being a mountain. I am 4,392 meters tall, the tallest member of my family. Being a volcano, people can’t help but stare at me in awe. I don’t blame them. I’m the epitome of magnificent. My snowy mountain peak is blinding to the eye in the bright sun. I am the home of an abundance of life. The streams coursing down my side provide water for the mama black bear and her baby cubs. Giant evergreen trees keep me nice and insulated from the cold so I can warm the inhabitants. The trees are home to the bald eagles that hold a watchful eye and protect the endangered Northern Spotted Owl, that you dare not harm. I consider every plant, rock, animal, and human that walk the trail to my summit to be considered my children. Remember I am a volcano, so I do have a temper from time to time, but I have been dormant for hundreds of years, so no need to worry. I would rather keep my children alive if possible. 

I help define the geography and climate of Washington. To my west, surrounding the Puget Sound, hundreds, no, thousands of buildings, highways, houses, cars, anything the humans can think of, come together to create a marvelous concrete jungle. From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t compare to New York, but hey, I’m a volcano, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. This little concrete jungle will have to do. I’ve always been confused about this weird, pointy, needle-shaped building the humans decided to erect one day. It is an alien building like one I’ve never seen. Probably explains why I hear people calling it the Space Needle when they hike my mountain face. One of my favorite traits of being a volcano, is having the privilege to look out to the Pacific Ocean when the sun goes to bed. Serving as a pleasant reminder that I should be getting some sleep as well. At night, the cities lights turn on, mirroring the stars when there aren’t any clouds out. I really like those days because I can look up and down to see a mirage of twinkling lights. 

I can’t talk about how awesome my location is without mentioning my view in the east! You probably assume its just more boring cities, with more boring Starbucks, but think again! Eastern Washington has some of the most unique geographical features on this planet. Coming from a geographical wonder like myself, that's saying something. The valleys that formed around eastern Washinton are made out of basalt, the sediment composing most of the ocean floor, meaning that this area was carved out by a giant glacial flood! Crazy right? Now, the east side of Washington is a sea of agriculture, mostly apples! I can’t think of a better place to live. I feel so bad for the people living in the middle of the country. Completely land-locked with no escape to the sea, or no marvelous mountains like me to look at!

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Mt. Rainier when shes mad

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Video describing the geography of Eastern Washington

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View of Mt. Rainier!

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A Car Ride Through the Past, Present, and Future

Remember the last day of high school? My buddies and I won’t. We had our own plans, mostly bumping  a mixture Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” and Louis the Child on repeat on the way to the music festival. We knew what the senior send-off would be like. The school hasn’t changed their traditions since 1983. We were supposed to walk around the school so the younger grades could witness the greatness of the big boys and girls about to graduate. I watched my brother three years ago, my friends’ brothers two years ago, and our friends in the grade above, all walk out of the high school doors. The older generations were always so cheerful in that moment. How could you not smile with hugs, high fives, and a round of applause? But what about the moment when the fresh air of a new reality hits you in the face when you walk out that door? Were they feeling fear? Excitement? A little bit of both? 

“I’m thinking I’m going to rush the same frat as my bro. Super easy to get in and they throw dope parties”, Jack said to Ryan, snapping me out of my train of thought. 

“I can’t believe I didn’t get into WCU. I can’t rush anywhere at Western. Damn! What the hell am I gonna do man? I could have gone to the same frat as my whole family too!”  Myles said after guzzling some Red Bull like he was searching for excitement at the bottom of the can. 

Quinton was quick to intervene, seeing Myles’ depressing vibes. “Myles, shut up and drink another Red Bull. We’re going to Watershed! Do you know what that means?”

Torin chirped in as well, “He’s talking girls bro. Girls in cowboy hats! Do I even need to mention were about to see Zac Brown Band live? Chicken Fried brother!”

Everyone laughed in the car. We just crossed the Columbia River, about twenty minutes out from the campgrounds. This was the moment we were waiting for. Many of our favorite artists were gathered in one place to absolutely rock our worlds for the next couple of days. Our brothers went to this music festival when they were graduating and thought we would do the same. I started to feel bad for all the kids back in school. They were all sitting around a projector in the gym to watch memories of the year. Myles comment had me thinking of how I was the only one of my friends going out of state. I was going into unknown waters, knowing absolutely no one. Where else was I going to find friends like this?  

Trevor joined the conversation, not saying anything after a long car nap. “Boys, no matter what happens this weekend, we’re going to make so many more memories like this.”

He said that as if he read my mind, and I know what everyone else was feeling when they left through those doors. Pure, exhilarating, excitement for whats to come.