The Rain in Rome

Hate is a very strong word and I try not to use it too liberally unless it’s in regard to something I really mean. Up until today, I would have went so far as to say I strongly dislike Rome when it rains, but moving forward, it’s safe to say that I full-on hate Rome when it rains. Roman rain is the worst rain I have ever experienced in my life hands down. And I know rain..I spent a college semester in London. Roman rain is arresting…umbrellas are rendered obsolete and you literally cannot do anything until it lets up.

Part of what makes the rain so unbearable is that there’s no smooth segue into the storm once the precipitation starts. The sky turns gray, there’s about three drops of drizzle, a gust of wind and an apocalyptic clap of thunder or two coupled with a flash of lighting before the sky opens to release a monsoon-like downpour complete with hail pellets (at times) and more thunder & lightning. If you’re out and about, an umbrella does you a disservice. You will get saturated regardless and unable to accomplish your purpose for being out, albeit running errands, a doctor’s appointment or taking a coffee. On rainy days, I couldn’t be happier about being a self-employed professional working from home because that means I don’t have to set foot outside if I can help it. I can sit back in one of my office chairs, safe from the weather outside my home office, and listen to the rain pitter-patter against the window as I get on with my work. Having an environment like this that allows you to work productively is precisely why I surround myself with office supplies and suitable furniture to keep me on-task and well equipped for doing my job from home.

Another reason I hate Rome when it rains borders more on the mental than physical side. I believe that whomever designed Rome’s color palette did so with complementing the sun in mind so when the light reflects off these orange, brown, russet, pink, yellow and peach-hued palazzi, it’s just magical. The colors appear even more radiant against the backdrop of a blue sky and your mood instantly elevates as a calm takes hold of you; if you’re suffering from a case of the blues, you’re happy and if you’re already happy, you’re happier. When it rains in Rome, it’s just dreary, unbecoming, miserable and depressing. I have no desire to see or speak with anyone, and I just want to crawl into bed and stay there until the storm passes. The juxtaposition of the gray clouds against the exquisite warm color palette is ominous and sinister. There’s no light reflecting off the buildings and the doom & gloom is just pervasive, and can really kill your mood and destroy your day.

Dear universe: please no more rain in Rome for now. Let the sunshine in!