The Parents-In-Law were in town this weekend and, as per usual, the rain poured down. I swear that the weather in Austin is gorgeous right up until the moment their car hits Round Rock until the moment their car heads out on I-35. Even though this isn’t a surprise anymore, I still cringe when I hear the weather reports in anticipation of their dismay and my embarrassment.
People have a strange habit of taking responsibility of the weather in their place of residence, I’ve realized. I can’t complain about the weather anywhere without a native friend (or husband) taking offense and feeling some mix of guilt, defensiveness, and frustration. And now I have become that way about Austin, which I suppose means I truly feel like I live here and I’m not just on an extended visit. This wouldn’t be remarkable except for my history of “stopping through” a city for a year. It’s doubly hard for me because I defend Austin’s weather in some situations and the Midwest’s weather in others, which often puts me at war with myself. And, that my friends, is my introspection for today.
The Parents-In-Law were lovely and bought us wonderful food and wine and great conversation, and I am so looking forward to visiting the beach this weekend with them. The residents of South Padre Island are surely not looking forward to being blinded by my pasty white skin slathered in sunscreen, but I don’t even care, I fully intend to wear a swimsuit. And it will be awesome.
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