Limitations of the Umbrella

For those of you in Colorado...

The umbrella is an instrument to protect you from the rain and has not been seen in Colorado since before the Spanish-American war.  It was believed extinct but may be lurking, hidden in an old 1800's home on the west side of town, behind the coal furnace and buggy whip.

Because I am from Colorado, I have no experience with it, so this device looked like a good idea.  Once again proving that thoughts in the mind are suspect.  Real experience is a much better guide.

I was sitting in a palapa, roadside restaurant, with a friend eating one of the best hamburgers I've had here ($1.50).  And a side salad ($1.00).  The food was great even at a higher price.  This place cooked everything over a charcoal fire.  

Then the rains came...torrentially...tropically...as hard as it rains only in paradise.

No problem.  We were dry and fed and enjoying the afternoon.

In about an hour, it stopped.  Just like a valve was slammed shut.  No rain but so beautiful.

Green and as verdant as possible with gleaming drops of water gems on each leaf.  

Being fooled by the absence of rain, I started home in a leisurely way.  No hurry, no rain.  I stopped at the Shalom bakery (owned by a Christian Korean) for a cup of coffee and a Cinnamon roll, then I started the long way home, stopping to talk with friends for 15 minutes.

About 30 minutes into an hour walk home, it started to rain again...torrentially!  

Not to worry, I had an umbrella, the one without the instructions for this desert rat.

As it turns out, umbrellas are for short sprints from the car to the door, or a quick jaunt down the block. But not for extended walks.

You see, the rain cascades off the umbrella in a 360 degree circle around the circumference of the umbrella, creating a wall of water that hits you at about the waist.

Yep, totally saturated from the waist down and one shirt sleeve to boot.

Oh, but there is something so wonderful about being out in nature at it's most intense.  So I didn't mind.  It was simply fantastic.

I think I will buy the old yellow rain slick suit for future events.