Just the way I ilke it

 Today is a gloriously awful stormy day.

I can't help it.

I love stormy days.

It's cold,dark,rainy,gloomy and by most people's standards nasty.

I couldn't be happier.

All of this nasty weather and it's happening on my birthday. What could be better than that!

I seem to remember more than my fair share of stormy days on my birthday.

Nine years ago we had a snowstorm and 8 years ago Hurricane Sandy.

Like I said, my birthday and nasty weather seem to go hand in hand.

I suppose the familiar feel of inclement weather serves as a reminder to me of birthdays past.

I remember one such birthday years ago,probably 1967 or '68.

My parents got me a faux leather motorcycle jacket. It was to replace the coat they bought me for Chanukah a year earlier....bright red plush with a totem pole on the back.

OMG.....how embarrassing!

The chubby kid wearing a bright red plash coat with a totem pole!

What were they thinking?

I can tell you exactly what they were thinking. It was on the sale rack at Alexanders.

It was marked down,80% off.

It wasn't often that a deal on my size appeared on the closeout rack.

Hence, it was a no brainer.

Bright red plush with a totem pole.

Are you getting the picture?

But now, I had this really cool, faux leather motorcycle jacket.

It had zippers all over.

So damn cool!

Outside, the weather was much like it is today,cold wet and rainy.

And I didn't care. I went outside and stood on our driveway, just hoping someone, anyone, would walk by and see how cool I was.

Now, it was after dinner, on a very small side street,on a school night so the chances of running into anyone were slim.

Still, it was certainly worth the try.

After a half hour or so, my head soaking wet, I went back inside.

I was drenched,and so was my new jacket,my new,faux leather motorcycle jacket, which took 3 days to dry out.

The red plush coat with the totem pole?

Well, it would have to suffice until my new cool jacket dried out.

I probably could have thought that out a little better!

Rainy birthdays.......such great memories!

I wouldn't want it any other way!