Backseat - From Where I Sit

April 2002

By: Michelle

Rain Dance

There is no denying that this has been a very dry year. However, just like washing a car will inevitably bring on the rain, it seems only appropriate that first "real" ride of springtime would have the same effect. Even though many consider this a battle of "man versus nature", I like to take a more harmonious approach in which the rhythm of the rain starts off a series of dances.

The first dance begins with the music of the gentle tap tap tap of the soft drizzle against your visor. The music slowly builds with intensity as the droplets turn into gushing windswept streams of water fiercely pouring off your helmet like wet bullets.

This moment leads directly up to -

The Hoe Down: This dance requires a partner and usually begins with one partner asking the other, "How bad do you think this will get?" The other partner responds with the motion of turning her head upwards towards the sky and replying "I think we will be ok." To this, the first partner responds by shaking his head and stating, "Are you sure? It seems to be getting worse. Maybe we should stop." The second partner repeats the motion of looking up into the sky and replies "It will probably stop any minute." This back and forth response will continue for some time until one of the partners takes the firm lead and has convinced the other that it is time to take action.

If the music of the rain continues, the Hoe Down quickly becomes -

The Rain Suit Bump and Grind: This dance is fairly self-explanatory, especially if you are familiar with trying to put on a one piece rain suit in the pouring rain. By the way, this dance inevitably takes place in the middle of nowhere as one of the first tenants of Murphys Law of Rain and Motorcycling states that "Rain always happens on the longest stretch of road where there is no where to seek cover."

After completing several rousing choruses of the Rain Suit Bump and Grind you begin -

The Bake and Soak Boogie: This dance is facilitated by the alternating sun and rain. It is easily recognized the repetitive motion of zipping and unzipping your rain gear in time with the stopping and starting of the rain. It is also easily identifiable with the trademark steam that builds underneath the visor adding to the visual effects of the dance.

At any time throughout the ride, the dance can easily be broken up by the move -

The Tease: This dance is characterized by the fact that it is clear behind you but not in the direction in which you are heading. The motions consist of constantly turning your head and looking over your shoulder to see the sun that always seems to be directly behind you.

The final dance move can be either of the following -

The Happy Dance: As the music of the rain finally stops, the choreography consists of joyfully peeling off your rain gear, tossing it gleefully in the air and outstretching your hands upwards toward the glorious sunshine.

Or in our case on this particular ride when it never stopped raining -

The You Lose Blues: This dance concludes with a bowed head and conceding victory to the rain.

Regardless of the outcome, always bow to your partner and thank the rain for the dance -until next time.

Thanks for visiting VirginiaWind.

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