Break From The Rain
Two weeks ago, Tennessee was drenched in rain for days. The flooding was so intense, it even kept us, enthusiastic frog and salamander seekers, indoors. With many of my friends and I sharing April birthdays, we decided it was time to break free from the gloom. In search of sunshine, celebration, and a bit of nature, we made a plan: find a window in the weather and head down to the Nashville Zoo for a shared birthday adventure.
On our drive down, something unexpected caught our eye. A hole-in-the-wall Hispanic restaurant was nestled just off the side of the road. It had a small train of smokers out front just billowing away. We pulled over, climbed out of the car, and were immediately wrapped in the delicious smell of wood smoke, spices, and chicken.
We entered the small, unassuming storefront, and were welcomed with friendly smiles. Cases of chicharrones lined the counters, and a butcher station offered all sorts of wonderfully aromatic meats and sausages. Toward the back of the shop stood a wall of aguas frescas, mango, melon, lemon, horchata, jamaica, and others I can’t even remember. My friend Brody spotted a case of rotisserie chickens that looked, and smelled absolutely heavenly. We made our way to the counter and ordered a chicken meal, which came with grilled onions, handmade corn tortillas, and a generous serving of stewed beans and homemade sauces.
When I say this was one of the best rotisserie chickens I’ve ever eaten, I mean the bones almost didn’t make it to the trash. It was juicy, smoky, and so tender it practically fell apart in our hands.
With that, we made our way to the zoo. We wandered the exhibits, starting at the Hyacinth macaws, then the meerkats, who we figured out would run over to you if you crinkled a bag of popcorn. We meandered the rest of the day, laughing, oohing and aahing, someone always tossing out random facts, some known, some suspected. We were all like kids again.
Did you see the tree frog?
How about the indigo snake?
Did y’all see the sloth in the greenhouse?
Me neither.
We made it through nearly all the exhibits, and we decided we would visit the aviary before we left. We arrived at the entrance, and each bought a cup of nectar. Before long, I realized I had been pickpocketed. I was shocked, but luckily, one of my friends happened to be taking a picture of me while the thief was tearing away at my wallet!
Blanch, we later figured out, is a young lorikeet and the troublemaker of the group. She found her way into my pocket and began tearing away at my money and various business cards.
With that, the rain started to roll back in, and we hurriedly left the zoo. We stopped at a local Mediterranean restaurant and ate happily as we laughed about the day’s adventures. Look how happy everyone is!
We all filled our bellies and waddled to the door. On our way home, Brody (left) and I entertained the car as we started talking about politics, WWII history, nonsense and eventually started a dialog in Irish accents (haha). We had people in tears by the time we made it home.
All in all, it was one of those days that just fills your cup. This little adventure reminded me how important it is to go out, touch grass, and surround yourself with friends. Now more than ever, taking the time to be with others feels essential. Today’s social climate is heavy, filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and fear, and rightfully so. But I’ve come to believe that carving out moments like this, where joy and laughter are freely shared, whether with friends or total strangers, matters more than ever.
Of course, it won’t fix everything, but it reminds you that good still exists. That human connection, kindness, and laughter are part of our basic humanity.
Whatever storm you may be weathering, find a break in the rain. Grab some friends, meet a stranger, share a rotisserie chicken, or let a lorikeet pick your pocket. Whatever it takes to remind you that life is still full of small, silly, beautiful joys.
If you enjoy reading nature Substacks, I encourage you to check out Dr. Bob Leonard at Cedar Creek Nature Notes, Dian Porter at My Gaia, Larry Stone at Listening to the Land, Al Batt at Naturally Al Batt, and Dr. Estes at GALAS: Natural History of a Southern Conservationist
You won’t be disappointed!
“Love of nature is the spring from which stewardship flows. In contrast, disconnection from nature leads to apathy in the face of all environmental problems. A useful way to define love is sustained, compassionate attention. Paying sincere attention to, and developing a rich curiosity about others helps us to be kind. This attention takes work and improves with practice.” - John Muir Laws
Caught myself smiling as I read this one!!