I really miss rain, especially the sounds of rain pelting the roof. In Honduras its tropical and obviously rains a lot. One of my favorite feelings was falling asleep at night hearing the rain so clearly as it fell on the aluminum roof. During rainy season (May-October) it would often rain several times a week.
David was telling me how much he misses the rain too. Here in Southern California we live in such a desert. Last year I think we received a total of 4 inches of rain! And if it does rain, its barely a fifteen minute sprinkle. David was telling his dad on the phone how much he misses the rain storms of Tegucigalpa. And he told David that "there are sounds that touch the soul." Wow, that is so true, I just never would have said it so nicely like that.
What my father-in-law said started getting me thinking about all the sounds and even smells that touch my soul and how, sadly, often you don't realize how important they are until you don't have them anymore.
Other than the rain I really miss being waken up by the roosters outside the house I was living in in Tegucigalpa. (Yes, even in the city there are many roosters wandering about). I miss the smells of the beans, and eggs, and plantains and all the other food that the street vendors would be cooking all day long.
Strangely, several times I have walked passed a spot on the sidewalk where it smells profusely of urine and immediately I thought I was walking along the streets of Tegucigalpa. I don't particularly enjoy the smell of urine but it, amusingly, made me smile and wish I were in Honduras again. The same thing happened when I was crossing the street the other day and there was a strong car exhaust odor. I could have sworn I was crossing Boulevard Suyapa and one of the many buses just passed me leaving a trail of exhaust behind.
I also really miss the sights, smells, and sounds of fall in Michigan. Michigan has the most beautiful fall weather! I love it when it just starts to get cool enough where you want to put on a fall jacket to keep warm. I love the smell of fall apples, hot apple cider, and the smell the trees make when the leaves are changing color and falling to the ground. I miss seeing the radiant reds and oranges on the trees. I miss how good it feels to be in a warm house on a cold night wrapped in a blanket drifting off to sleep.
Maybe when we leave Southern CA there will be sights, sounds, and smells that we will miss from here to. But for now it just doesn't feel the same as home. I am glad our homes are in Michigan and Honduras and its sounds, sights, and smells touch my soul and it just feels like home.