Toadstools and Rainbows

Thursday night. A long day at the library comes to an end, longer than usual because its my day to open, so I arrive at 7:30 am. I work the Circulation Desk all morning until 1 or later, then try to catch up with my usual projects. After I turn the Reference Desk over to the evening person, I pack up my bag of music and head for church, relishing the opportunity to walk the long block to the other end of campus, get outside a bit, enjoy the fresh air.

I wrap my raincoat about me and pull the hood over my head to protect against the light spatter of rain. It reminds me of a cloak I owned back in my early college days, a wonderful blue and gray plaid with a full hood that I had waterproofed with a can of spray-on ScotchGuard, a novelty at the time. On Sunday afternoons when I was attending both Houghton and Nyack I would walk all afternoon, rain or shine, wrapped in that warm cloak, shaking off the rigors of studying and being cooped up inside.

I am surprised to find that at heart I am really an outdoors girl. I have always known I must have windows and sunlight in my life, else I shrivel up. But as I think back, I spent most of my time as a young girl playing outside or gardening or harvesting. I didn't realize how much I enjoy being outside, how it feeds my soul as well as my body.

This little walk is a highlight of my week. I thoroughly enjoy the quiet street that divides dorms from dining hall, athletic center from private homes. There is just enough traffic to keep you safe, just enough grassy curb to soften your footsteps, just enough breeze to freshen the air. I can feel the tiredness begin to slip away, my shoulders not so achy, my brain waking up.

Today, after so much rain, I am surprised to find tall puffy toadstools growing on the lawns, tempting you to take a nibble (though I don't) and tantalizing the local critters. I gaze at the ground as I walk along, amazed at how many there are of all sizes and shapes - tall and skinny with little caps, short and squat with wide umbrellas and ruffly gills, little thimble sized brown ones and pure white capped ones bending gracefully. I am so intent on watching for them that I almost missed it.

The widest, most shimmery rainbow I have ever seen! Just a half one that came straight down with only the hint of a curve to it. I am sure it fell just the other side of Westside Drive. As I watched, the colors seemed to merge and smear together until there were just two colors really - blue and red. Then the colors separated again into at least six distinct ones. It seemed to grow fatter, then thinner, brighter then lighter.

I finally had to just stand still and watch for a few minutes, fearful that I would trod a toadstool as I looked up at the rainbow. What an amazing afternoon jaunt. I am ready - ready to sing and make music in my heart and with my voice. I hope my choir saw the rainbow and that they will bring its brilliance with them to rehearsal!