Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Standing upon the sandy pathway that spilled onto the grassy glade, where birds picked their way through the undergrowth, I stood staring across the dry lake bed with the sagging canopy of cloud stretched across the heavens, when, like an old friend,  raindrops tapped my person, bringing me gently back to reality.

It was the splashing upon the pool that first alerted me to the change in weather. The morning was overcast, an unusual occurrence in itself, and by mid-afternoon the heavens began to berth its water. I stepped outside to fill my senses with the cool damp smell of watered earth, which has become so rare to an event that I was quickly resolved to pull out my long neglected raincoat and embrace the full extent of this treat of nature, rain.

Heading to the local park my spirits soared to see this raw element descend from above. The lake only months ago brimming with water, now laid exposed and barren, with a few scattered pools reminding the onlooker of its former glory. Upon my arrival, the rain ceased and I gazed a while upon what was left of the lake, questioning how its bountiful supply would return as rainstorms had been few over the past few months. And, as if the weather had heard my silent doubts, it responded with a few drops quickly turning into a full deluge to which I moved under an overhanging branch. My actions were greeted with a burst of raucous hooting from behind, though not a soul in sight, the perpetrators were of the feathered kind, who seemed to be raining down their own laughter at the consequence of my ill-fated question over the power of nature.

My initial joy (and clothes) were somewhat dampened with the turn of weather, so I sought a more reliable man made shelter near the car park, where I was startled to observe that the birds in question fitted my childhood stored image of the kookaburra. Naturally the affiliated song was also gathered from the depths of my memory and I began singing the lyrics [1], which were being enacted out in front of my very eyes (though I cannot vouch that it was a gum tree it was sitting in).

It’s a strange world when rain becomes a novelty and childhood tunes come to life… but that’s Australia for you. I was rescued from this surreal experience (and the rain which continued its incessant downpour as if stubbornly showing the deep error of my judgement as to how the lake will be re-filled) by a quick text for help and a resulting car-lift back home, much to the rescuers’ amusement.

As unfortunate as my escapade turned out to be, it was nice just to be surrounded by nature after my first 32 hour week working in a department store. Don’t get me wrong, tiring as it was, I find satisfaction in methodical work but the trip to the park was an nice opportunity just to relax in the company of other species that co-inhabit this world and be reminded by the rain that as much as humans try, we can’t control everything.

And on that note, this human says

Buenas noches

P.s..Happy Birthday Binky and Gnaomi

Reference:
The Kookaburra song, for those who don't know it/can't remember it. I was suprised to find that out there were other verses than the one (1st) that I knew!
http://alldownunder.com/oz-u/songs/kookaburra-song-9.htm