Arizona Rain

 I've lived in Arizona for 20 years and I still smile when I'm driven to go outside and watch or stand in the rain. It happens so infrequently that it becomes an event. It rained two nights ago and my wife and I went outside to watch the lightning and the rain. It had been over 100 days since the last rain of any consequence, at least at my house, that we also experienced another Arizona phenomena. If you've ever smelled a pile of dirty socks in a damp basement then you were right there. That first rain after a long dry spell STINKS! All the collected dust on everything from just normal everyday occurrences plus the additional piled on from our dust storms makes the air smell really bad when it gets wet. I am still waiting for that first hard rain that clears the air and makes a lake at the end of my driveway. That first big rain nearly begs for you to go stand outside in it or as we do,  just take a walk around the neighborhood in it mainly because it feels good. Coming from New England as I do I never thought I would miss the rain or want a break from almost continual sunshine.  Guess I was wrong.