Right now, it is the middle of a huge thunderstorm. I remember big drops like this when we went to visit my grandparents in Colorado- a real storm. After living in Oregon for almost my whole life, you would think that I would be used to rain. I am used to Oregon rain- gray days and weeks at a time of icky drizzle and wet shoes.
Philadelphia rain is something that I really enjoy. I’ve always loved stormy weather. In Eugene, we only got one good storm per year or every couple of years. Here, the street sign outside of my living room window regularly bends and shakes in the wind, making a metallic thunder sound. The storms here pour down floods of rain with lightening streaking and lighting up the sky. The thunder scares my cats and small children with load roars lasting 30 seconds or so. And then it stops. There aren’t gray drizzling days here. It is either pouring down or it isn’t. Wet sneakers have a chance to dry out.
Speaking of sneakers? Yesterday, I went on a mission to buy a megaphone. A little one used in youth sports or events would have been perfect. One of my summer program teachers has a problem with her vocal chords and can’t speak loudly enough to be heard over screaming 6-7 year olds. I looked online before I ventured out and found some sporting goods stores and other stores which had sporting goods departments. I called all of the stores and asked if they had megaphones before I left. Most of the people answering the phone didn’t seem like they knew where they worked, let alone what the stores carried, so I decided to venture out.
A young man that works with us volunteered to go with me and we set off. I was explaining to him that I needed to buy a megaphone. He looked perplexed and asked me what a megaphone was. I replied, “a bullhorn.” He said, “Oh, you mean a blowhorn?” And I agreed- new to this terminology. We went into the sporting goods store and I asked for the megaphones. The young men working looked confused. Juan said, “We need a blowhorn.” The workers responded with understanding and replied that they don’t carry them, nor do they know who does. They get asked that question all the time. I was just standing there wondering what a blowhorn was.
The venture further northeast in Philadelphia was not for nothing. They were having a sidewalk shoe sale. I walked up to the tables under a long white tent and immediately found shoes that I wanted to get for Nat. They were only $30 each! I got Nat two pairs and myself one pair. Bright colors and high tops- two very good things together. (One of Nat’s pairs was a lowtop.)
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reedavaz
natmcgowan
