Rainy Days and Tuesdays

Ahhhh. Rainy mornings in summer. If there’s nowhere to rush to, these are scrumptious mornings.

An excuse to get cozy under a throw blanket just a little bit longer, while sipping that first hot cup of coffee, before the energy of the house has switched on for the day.

Just me and my sleepy dog, neither of us in any hurry for the morning to begin.

Rainy Days and Mondays hums on repeat in the background of my mind.

Which makes me think of another title.

Tuesdays with Morrie.

Malcolm loved that book.

I think what spoke to him was the ongoing commitment to being fully present with another human being.

Connection.

The heart connection.

One of the things I loved most about Malcolm was his desire to connect.

Teaching was like that for him.

Science wasn’t simply a subject he taught. It was something he loved. And because he loved it, teaching became an act of connection.

He loved the witnessing of learning, and those lightbulb moments when a concept finally clicked. He appreciated the students who struggled through difficult material, pressing on when learning felt exhausting. He noticed their effort, their dedication, and their hard work.

I know he loved all of that as a teacher.

But as the big teddy bear that he was, I think the heart connection mattered most. With students and with anyone.

The “this is what life is about” connection.

That’s what I think Tuesdays with Morrie meant to him.

Not simply the conversations.

The relationship.

The willingness to show up for another person again and again.

The heart connection.

This morning’s permission to delay the day reminds me of winter days when school was called off.

Rather than go back to sleep, Mal and I would excitedly get dressed and head over to Helen’s Restaurant for breakfast.

The novelty to do a weekend thing on a weekday when we’d normally be working.

The roads would be quiet. Snow still falling.

The whole day stretching out ahead of us.

Time borrowed from schedules and responsibilities.

A little pocket of shared excitement

Time to sit across from one another over coffee and eggs while the rest of the world waited for the roads to clear.

As I sit here hearing only the pitter-patter of raindrops landing on surfaces outside, my heart expands and a big smile spreads across my face.

Time for a second cup.