If I ran the Zoo

Rain rain, go away, come again some other day. No, rain please don’t go away, stay so I can breathe another day.

We live in a place with a lot of rainfall, especially at this time of year. This month we’ve been surrounded by clouds and drenched with rainfall, but every few days the sun comes out and the cloud formations are breathtaking.

As a movie and television director, I had to spend over 40 years based in Los Angeles, although we were filming in wonderful places like Amsterdam, Australia and Budapest. My allergist extended his arm, pointed his finger north and said “You cannot live here” because of the dryness and smog and exhaust from all of the terrible traffic that makes the air even worse.

My pal William Shatner texted me and said, “Find me a place where my kids and grandkids will be able to breathe.” He is in his early nineties and comfortable living out his life in the San Fernando Valley, but he knows the future is not bright there so I’ve been sending him land for sale ads from Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Yes, if we are socked in with rain for weeks at a time, it can be a bit depressing and keep us from getting out and about. If you do some research, you will find that rain has some negative effects. Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemicals that can make you sick and it has been linked to disease outbreaks.

However, rainwater contains microorganisms which have the capacity to produce Vitamin B12 as a metabolic byproduct of their activity. If you want to absorb the vitamin, you can bathe in the rain safely for 10-15 minutes. Make sure you quickly shower with a proper soap after getting drenched.

Getting drenched in rain is an excellent way to balance your hormones. Rainwater is also effective for ear problems. It treats any kind of ear infections and keeps ear pain at bay.

However, try not to spend too much time getting drenched in rain because it can make you sick. Windy weather during rains can exacerbate these issues. To get a proper healthy balance, it is ideal to spend 10-15 minutes in rain and then hop in the tub for a warm bath.

And if you miss the sunshine, you can hop in a plane in Bellingham and fly to Palm Springs and visit my sister and brother-in-law and rent a car and enjoy a beautiful drive up the coast with the ocean to the left and the mountains to the right.

Or, stay here and enjoy the clean air and beautiful green grass and thick forests and take a short drive up to Mt. Baker to go skiing and snowboarding or jump on the ferry to one of the many beautiful islands we are looking out at from our coast.

In fact, I’m writing this while on the train to visit my son in Portland, Oregon and I’m looking out at beautiful rivers and streams and lush farmland surrounded by foothills and a peek at a beautiful snowcapped Mount St. Helens in the distance so I think I’m going to put off my trip to Palm Springs for a while.