Pluviophile (n) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

Dear Neighbors:

Yesterday was one of those days that seemed especially long, stretched so much that I felt thin and brittle when I came to a close. The reason for this was that Hugo (one of my dachshunds) got injured when Milo (another of my dachshunds) jumped on him. Hugo screamed and it was immediately evident that something was amiss with his right front paw. What followed was hours of  waiting at the vet, followed by many hours at home watching over and, anxiously looking after, my poor boy. Nothing is broken so we are hoping that he just has some soft tissue damage that medication and rest will take care of. 

   By the time I got into bed I was wrung out. It was sheer joy to slip between the soft flannel sheets and to pull the cozy quilts up around my neck as I prepared to read my book. Miss Bianca (one of my cats) jumped up onto the bed and snuggled into her customary place behind my knees. It was only after we were comfortably situated that I heard the quiet sound of rain on the roof and the rainwater slipping down the gutters. I sighed and smiled. This was exactly the medicine I needed.

   I adore the rain. This has not always been the case. I can’t remember liking the rain when I was a child, and I certainly did not like it when I was a student at Oxford. Riding my bicycle from my college to the zoology department in the rain was miserable. I can’t tell you how many lectures I attended where the lecture hall smelled like damp wool and soggy discomfort.

   My love for the rain truly blossomed after we moved to Oregon. In the last five years or so the lack of water in the dry, warmer months has been a serious, nagging worry. We have a vineyard and landscaping that requires irrigation water to stay alive. In addition, we need to keep the areas around the house as green as possible during wildfire season. So now, for me, rain equates with reassurance and safety. I also love what I call ‘cozy weather’; grey skies and cool temperatures that are conducive to sitting on the sofa under quilts and dogs.

   My daughter has always loved the rain. When she was very little I got her a pair of yellow wellington

books so that she could splash in rain puddles without getting soaking feet. She adored her wellies and on the first day she took them to bed with her. It took all my powers of persuasion to get her to place the wellies on a chair next to the bed. 

  My daughter is all grown up now, and living in Missouri. We talk or text often and when I tell her that it is raining here, or she tells me that it is raining where she is, we always share a moment or two of rain love talk. We smile and sigh with contentment because one or both of us is happily watching and listening to rainfall. 

   I recently learned that a person who loves rain is called a pluviophile. In Greek, the word “philos” means “love.” The suffix “ia” means “quality. Hence, “philia” (“filia” in English) means the quality of feeling love for a given situation or object. In turn, “pluvium” comes from “pluvial” which means “from rain or related to rain.” Pluviophilia is a love, fondness or special attraction to rain and everything concerning rain. 

  To those of us who are rain lovers, there’s something special about rainy days that others might not understand. We revel in the sound of rainfall and enjoy walking in the rain. We’re happy when it rains and wouldn’t want it any other way. Most people appreciate rain at least some of the time. They might open their windows to smell the fresh air when it rains, and to hear the pattering of raindrops. Some might take a walk during a light rain shower. A few might even run in the rain. But are they pluviophiles? Probably not, because true pluviophiles enjoy all the weather conditions associated with rainfall, and they see beauty in storms and grey clouds. For us pluviophiles a rainy day makes us  feel cozy and calm. 

Pluviophile

Sit quietly and listen

Far out of eyesight

Through the mountains and the valleys

the storm is coming

Hear that rolling thunder crashing in the heavens

Smell the sweet scent of rain falling off in the distance

Get a brief glance of lightning as it dashes high above

Dark clouds may be coming but the pluviophile knows that without the

 rain

There is no growth

Written by Hunter

Art at the top of the page created by Yangzi