Drenched.

It's blustery in paradise. Last night the rain thundered down so heavily it scared the cat and drowned out the sounds of the TV. This morning I ventured out to survey the yard, looking for damage-- toppled plants, scattered roof shingles, clogged rain gutters. We had just planted a new plumeria tree. Well, it's hardly a tree at barely four feet tall, and I expected to see it on the ground, or bent, or buckled. But surprise! My little tree had bloomed. Even under the gloom of dense cloud cover still blanketing the island, my new plumeria blossoms gleamed, raindrops sparkling like tiny gems on velvet petals. Nature welcomes the rain. So do I. What a great day to be alive.