raindrops keep falling on my dog
Into every life a little rain must fall...
Of course, around these parts, the adjective little is wholly inadequate, teetering on hilarious. We certainly don't call this corner of the country the Evergreen State for its dusty and arid conditions. Frequent, often heavy, precipitation is a fact of life in the Pacific Northwest, one I generally relish. The rain, however, cares not a whit for our dog's aversion to dampness, nor the wood that slowly swells and rots in its swampy aftermath. It also gives zero consideration to Vacation time. Rainfall clears its calendar for no one.
Washington presents to the world certain symbols: a state flag, a state flower, tree, and bird. We even have a state song, Washington, My Home, that references small towns and cities that rest here in the sun. The lack of the word Cloudburst in any verse begs the question--had the writer ever stepped foot in this region during a non-summer season? I propose legislators should give this distinctive honor another go. Here Comes the Rain Again pops instantly to mind. I daresay it's been falling on my head like a memory.
While most of our vacation passed in a whirlwind of glittering excitement (it’s never to early for us to Deck the Halls), we also took time out for a furry fashion fitting. Because she refuses to get wet, and precipitation is a regularity, Maisie has had a rain slicker for almost as long as she's been a member of our family. Her slicker, however, should be ashamed of itself. It's thin. It absorbs more water than it repels. The hood is unusably proportioned, meaning Raindrops Keep Fallin' on Her Head. And, from mid-back to tail, it slides off one side of our dog leaving her almost as soaked as if she hadn't worn it at all. In the early days, I'd tried coaxing Maisie into the yard beneath the protective awning of an umbrella, but, as she listened to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain against it, the contraption only served to frighten her. Contributing an air of levity by calling it a brolly or a bumbershoot instead didn't help in the slightest, a genuine shame as one encounters scant opportunities to utter anything so fun as Bumbershoot.
Now Maisie has a real raincoat--constructed of a thick, sturdy material, waterproof with a soft lining, sleeves, a length that extends to the base of her tail and over her bottom, a hood that actually functions as a hood, and ample chest and belly coverage to hold the garment in place and keep her drier. Will this new outerwear dissolve the invisible industrial-strength adhesive that anchors four hairy feet to the dry covered deck? Will it inspire our dog to willingly step into a shower instead of threatening to clamp a lock on her bladder until mid-May? It's too soon to tell, but she certainly looks fabulous. And, with our baby draped in such a vivid shade of pink, it is no longer solely an affectionate metaphor to declare she is the brightest spot of any dark and gloomy day.
For dog parents in a similar predicament, the coat--available in multiple colors--is made by Blueberry Pet and is one of the best quality canine garments we've ever come across.
today’s musical musings have been brought to you by:
Queen - Rain Must Fall
THC - Evergreen State
The Go-Gos - Vacation
Helen Davis - Washington, My Home
Eric Whitacre - Cloudburst
Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again
Welsh carol dating back to the sixteenth century with 1862 lyrics added by Thomas Oliphant - Deck the Halls
B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head
The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain
Grey DeLisle Griffin - Bumbershoot