Watching the wind and gray move through uptown from my vantage point in the coffee house, I turn my attention back to my tablet and the academic writing project I’ve been working on for a couple of weeks.  The rain begins to fall as we step out of our temporary shelter, growing steadily in intensity with an uptick in wind. The impact is exaggerated by streetside potted plants and flowers recoiling as people scatter into doorways and cars to avoid contact.  My friend breaks for the parking garage, turning partway and taking a few steps backwards, yelling that he’ll come back with the truck.  Age and health separate us, I’m a lot slower in my gait, but I know he’s looking out for me.

I turn to face the rain, cool relief, a reminder of fall after days of heat and humidity.  Embracing this precipitous side of the water cycle, I take a minute before finding cover on the landing at the backside of a furniture store.  The rain and wind come and go quickly, and my friend arrives with the pickup from around the corner.  I pull myself into the passenger side and we make our way coincidentally north back through the city, shifting ever so slightly away from summer.