Tales Of a Wet Season - Part 1

Episode 1: Rain pants: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

With rain comes wet clothing. And with wet clothing brings you looking like a rat no matter what you do to try and save yourself from the impending buckets of rain falling out of the sky. I used to dread....and I mean dread the rain with going to school in PA where rain happened every Tuesday and Wednesday like clockwork. Which meant that getting to class was an inner argument of do I drive and risk a ticket from campus police or do I succumb to the rain and run like a freshmen across to buildings for 45 seconds of cover. Well, who knew that rain pants were a thing! Let me tell you, these things are a life savor, especially since I bike everywhere and sitting on a wet squishy bike seat is not a good look for the butt and pants when you are going to church and are literally praying that people know you ride a bike and did not just fall ass first into a puddle before arriving to church.

So this is where the rain pants come in. And these things do not disappoint. They have kept me dry, made the fashion statement that sometimes bring dry means you have to wear silver colored pants with reflectors, and that rain pants are a life staple that everyone needs to invest in....even you New York people. Some may also think "how bad can the rain be there?". Well let me inform you, I live behind the school where I work, so after doing the math, that is a 3 minute walk....I still need full rain gear to make it to school dry. Needless to say that everyone for Christmas will be getting these, so accept them, wear them proudly and just remember function over fashion.

Episode 2: Are you Xtra or are you Tuff?

Since moving to Sitka, I have been able to pick up on some things that locals do, or more importantly have in order to survive the wet weather here. Many have nylon backpack covers to keep things dry, others have bright rain jackets but everyone you meet in Sitka from the babies to the elderly folks that live in Pioneer Home.....they all have XtraTuffs. These are boots that are life savers in the rain, since they are not heavy and clunky and they have threads that can save you from a nasty and embarrassing spill on ice. So after house sitting for a week and walking digs I can finally say that I am a proud owner of the infamous Alaskan boots. Catch me sporting them even on a sunny day.

Episode 3: "Its Raining....do we still want to go out tonight?"

The answer will always be yes. Because guess what, everyone in Sitka missed the "dress up to go to the bar" memo that I received in college. So guess what, I get to go to the bar in leggings and a sweatshirt because I can. So at 10pm after my shift at the pool on Fridays, do I need to go home and change, no! It is a nice break from putting on 10 outfits in college to only pick the black outfit that I tried on first. So if anyone visits Sitka, feel free to sport leggings or jeans, a warm top and XtraTuffs. The bar scene is interesting as there is an order one must follow to have a good night. First you start at Mean Queen where you catch up with the bartender about their week, awkwardly see all the people you work with, and play pool with some pretty attractive guys. Then you walk through(you do not stop. under. any. circumstances.) Earnies, which is the self proclaimed "old man smokey bar" on your way to Pioneer Bar, which we call P Bar to close out the night at 2 am where all the 20 somethings are out meeting the new Coasties(Coast Guard) that are in town. And keep in mind, we do this in pouring rain. Then at 2 am when the decision to go home is made,(because nothing good ever happens after 2am) we all hop on our bikes, accept the wet bike seat and then bike the mile and change home. But in the end, it is always a good night.

Episode 4: "We are making it to mass"

If there is one thing that has been a constant since I got here other than the rain it has been 11am mass at St. Gregorys. Julia and I make real efforts to get there on time every Sunday. Which has not really been an issue until the rain rolled in and we have to wear several layers for the 15 minute bike ride, to then have to show up the church, shed about 4 layers and all while trying to not make a ton of noise. It was only after showing up 3 times wet as dogs did the priest realize that we both bike and that being wet was just inevitable at that point and only when church ends are we dry. But we have accepted it. So mom, stop worrying, I am getting to mass. You can breathe now that your kid has made it to mass all on her own volition.

Have a good day fam,

Ash