On a recent touristy afternoon, I took my parents to Dry Falls Dam. This was their first visit to Grand Coulee and in the weeks leading up to their arrival, I wondered how I would entertain them; Mother Nature had been relentless. A trip to Dry Falls Dam seemed like a safe activity to plan as we could enjoy it regardless of the weather.
I am new to the area having moved here in early January. All winter I heard promises of a beautiful spring and summer and all the lazy days on the lake we would have. I was optimistic, but cautious. The long cold spring has been scattered with gloriously sunny days, but for the most part, what I’ve seen of the skies above Grand Coulee have been gray.
But slowly, those gloriously sunny days have become more than just scattered abnormalities and have become the dominant weather pattern. In the gift shop at Dry Falls with my parents I saw a mug that said “Fun in the Sun, Grand Coulee, Washington.” I bought it immediately. Now, I get it! The first weekend my parents arrived we spent every spare minute at one of the many beaches around town, on the lake in a rented boat, or in my backyard sipping cold, summery drinks.
I am not totally new to a gray winter sky. I did spend two wet years getting my Master’s degree at Oregon State University but those years are getting increasingly distant faster than I would like to admit. Since then, my family and I have lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. When I tell people who have never lived in the Southwest that Santa Fe has 300 days of sunshine, they usually emit a small desperate sigh. As if nothing they could imagine could be better than all that sun. But in reality, there is a part of all of us, or at the very least a part of me, who wishes for a bit of blustery weather during winter. It’s strange to be so bitterly cold outside, the sun blasting at you and not a cloud in sight. On a typical cold winter day in Santa Fe you are bundled up to your eyeballs in winter clothes, hop in your car and promptly turn on the air conditioner.
Since moving to Grand Coulee, I have been reintroduced to that favorite American pastime of wondering about the weather, talking about the weather and trying to plan for the weather. I have loved every minute of it. I honestly forgot what it was like to feel the sun on your skin and rejoice in it. When you have too much of a good thing, even too much sunshine, it’s remarkable how quickly you come to take it for granted. On the first beautiful day this spring I sat out in my backyard, my daughter playing in the grass beside me. I am embarrassed to admit that I had tears in my eyes I felt so happy. How is it possible that simply a sunny day could make me feel so good when six months ago I was wishing for just one gray day so I could cozy down with a book and a roaring fire?
I read a book once about a scrappy old Scottish broad who never let the weather dampen her outdoor activities. She persevered in all weather. I immediately admired and envied this character, but as time has gone on I have realized that she is the exception and not the rule. Although I think we all would like to have a bit of defiance in us when it comes to the weather, it’s likely that we will all see a bit more of our neighbors now that the sun has returned to Grand Coulee. So for now, I am taking the slogan on my new mug to heart and am going to have “Fun in the Sun” in Grand Coulee.
Previously published in "The Star", Grand Coulee, Washington. June 29, 2011
