2002-06-04 @ 8:01 p.m.

you know how sometimes. youre just sitting there. or driving there. or walking there. and something hits you? and right away. it takes you back. to a specific time and place. to somewhere long ago?

well i cant help it. i love the way the air smells when its just rained. and the ground is wet. and the clouds are passed. and the sun is shining. it brings me back. makes me want to fling off my shoes. rip off my shirt. and run. run on the wet grass. on the wet glistening blacktop. and feel the warm water on the soles of my feet. and feel it spray up onto my ankles as i run.

sometimes. on days like this. where its been a bad day. or a bad couple of weeks really. and when it was just ninety degrees. and then it was hailing. and the streets were flooded. on my way back from an assignment. and you cant see a thing. and lightning is bolting down in front of you. and to your left and right. and you cant see a thing. except for the red taillights. of the car right in front of you.

and the lightning. is everywhere.

and five minutes later. youre at the office. and you step outside to get your wallet from your car. and you smell. that smell. the way the air smells when its just rained. and the ground is wet. and the clouds are passed. and the sun is shining.

the smell of the mid 1970s. and it takes you back. to 1978. to age six. and if you closed your eyes. you might rip off your shirt and fling off your shoes. and run. and feel the warm water on the soles of your feet.