I wonder if the entire world had a major thunderstorm at the same time if we would get one step closer to world peace.
There is something about a real knock-down drag out thunderstorm that changes people.
Even the most introverted person cannot help but comment to a complete stranger “Wow! What a storm!” thus opening the door to conversation.
In Vallarta, Mother Nature has a way of bringing people closer together. If you haven’t been in Vallarta during one of these magnificent storms, you are really missing something spectacular in more ways than one. While the lightening hitting the ocean and earth is brilliant and the thunder is deafening, it is more than just the storm itself that is electrifying. The beauty of the storm is what it brings out in people.
When the skies open up and the rain feels more like a waterfall than separate drops making their way to the earth, people run to the nearest shelter and here friendships are formed.
For almost three hours tonight, Vallarta experienced one of her famous storms. A few dark clouds made their way down from the mountains where they met clouds from the ocean and the moment they collided the party started.
Wherever people were, from beach to sidewalk to street, they stopped where they were going and high tailed it to the first dry place they found. From over-hang to coffee shop, bar or restaurant to Six Tecate diverse groups of people found themselves elbow to elbow and face to face laughing and shaking off the rain.
When it looked like there was no end insight to the rains, and the streets became virtually impassible by foot, by car and even by truck, everyone forgot about heading to their destination, but made the most of their current location.
Before the storm, I was on my way home, but decided to stop at a coffee shop and get a coffee to go. Instead I ended up drinking two coffees and a can of Diet Coke over a couple of hours. During this time, I met four new friends, had some great conversations, watched people who didn’t even speak the same language make comments about the rain, thunder and lightening with their hands, smiles and body language. I admit I eavesdropped on two people who I found out normally would have never spoken to each other, but were thrown together by Mother Nature and ended up having a conversation as to why they were no longer friends and parted ways being friends once more.
I believe the rains in Vallarta do more than wash away the dirt and dust, but have a way of washing away the inhibitions of the people who become caught in the storm.
