Where were you during our Big Storm? I was up in the High Country, when the heavens finally opened up and sent us a blizzard. It was a beautiful sight. People in the small town of Skull Valley were out walking, sledding, throwing snowballs and making snowmen. My big yellow Lab, Piper, ran around like a new puppy, pushing the snow along with his nose. My horses acted like big babies and stayed in the barn most of the time, glancing out at their pasture with considerable worry. Birds flocked around the feeders, cattle hunkered down together in a big circle and snowflakes cascaded down to earth in record numbers. It was grand!

The rain in the valley caused some folks to become positively giddy. There were reports of people dancing in the street, running out of their homes (with few clothes on) and rolling in mud puddles. Evidently, 146 days of drought has made more than a few of us go loco. Grown men crying at the sight of a raindrop tells you just how dry we've all been.

The Navajo claim that rain clouds look like sheep in the sky and that a raindrop is the single blessing that assures life. They pray for rain to cleanse the earth, replenish the rivers, grow the crops, nourish the wildlife and soothe the spirit. Rain may soothe more than the spirit-maternity nurses predict that we'll see a "bumper crop" of babies being born nine months from now. Couples seem to get "cozy" during a rainy or snowy weekend. Did you know what rain could lead to?

It has been reported (by reputable sources) that more babies are conceived during "bad weather" and more births occur during storms. Hey, even livestock seem to deliver their babies in record numbers during blizzards. One man in Desert Hills e mailed me to say that his wife is only interested in sex (children, stop reading right now) when it's cool and rainy. He was trying to get a job transfer to Seattle. One man in Cave Creek asked me if I knew of any research that concludes that women like to cook only in inclement weather. He says after 40 years of marriage, only when it's cool or rainy does his wife like to cook. How would I know about these things? I do know we love our rain.

One woman in Anthem e mailed me to say that she went to an outdoor wedding that was completely washed out. The bride and groom tried to keep a brave face and not complain about the disaster of having fifty lawn chairs dripping wet, decorations ruined and guests crammed into a small condo. This is what a long drought can do to us-make us forget that there might even be a possibility of rain. Why bother making alternative plans when we've had such a long, dry spell?

I suppose that rain and snow could be catalysts for a long list of biological and psychological events. I have more to say on this topic, but I'm looking out my window and I see sheep forming in the northern sky. Time to get the crock pot out, chill the wine, find the umbrella, pull in the lawn furniture, get out the boots and start boiling water (for babies or soup-whichever comes first). Let it rain and let it snow. Yipeee!