Walking in the Rain

I haven't purposely walked in the rain in a very long time.  I had forgotten that once you are soaked to the bone it becomes fun.  You're usually not intentionally trying to get caught in the rain but after you're drenched there's always a rush to get to dry clothes.  In between, when you're soaking wet there's a sweet spot where you're having a blast. All caution and concern about staying dry is left behind and there's liberation in being totally drenched.

Today the March of Dimes annual March for Babies www.marchforbabies.org took place.  I wasn't sure I wanted to participate when I was awakened by thunder and periodic downpours this morning.  Even driving to the walk site I wasn't convinced I would stay.  Honestly I just wanted to drop off my pledge sheet to come back home and be a lazy bum. But once I saw the other walkers, wearing t-shirts in memory of the children they lost and the rain started to fall I became less concerned with being dry.  My mind was flooded with the memories of coming home from the hospital without my daughter, being labeled a high-risk pregnancy with my son, and thinking about how it is inevitable that other families would experience the same. 

Five years ago my daughter was born 10 weeks early.  Without the research and development that has been funded by the March of Dimes to sustain life for babies born too soon, I'm sure my daughter wouldn't have made it.  According to the March of Dimes 1 in 8 babies will be born prematurely.  Knowing all too well what that means how could I not walk in the rain.