What does your umbrella say about you?

We decorated our REAL Christmas tree last night!

And this morning I participated in the morning rush hour for the first time since June. Tomorrow is the holiday program for the elementary school where I am assisting/accompanying, and so this morning I had to arrive at 8:15 am for rehearsal. Even though last week we had -4 degree wind chills, this morning it was pouring down rain. I was pleasantly surprised to spot so many colored umbrellas among my fellow Chicagoans! Black were still the majority by far, but I wasn't the only one carrying color.

As I walked, the rain slowly soaking into my weather-proof boots, I tried to theorize about the people who carried the pinks, blues, greens, reds, and yellows. Where they also the people who wore colored coats? Sometimes, but not always. Where they young? Sometimes. Where they trying to stand out in another way? Sometimes, but again not always. So it seems that it's random.

I did, however, notice a correlation between the SIZE of the umbrella and whether the person carrying it was walking toward Union Station or coming from it. The commuters carrying the enormous umbrellas--the ones that can probably fit 2-3 regular umbrellas underneath and really only fit one per sidewalk--were all coming from the station, meaning they were suburbanites. Does it rain harder there? So hard that they need their own personal awning?? I arrived to work wet, but proud of my little Swiss umbrella that Etel and Adrian gifted me over the summer.

At the end of the day, the rain had turned to sleet and I set out clutching my red umbrella. Even though I had turned my umbrella against the wind, lest I be swept up in a gust a la Mary Poppins, the wind was so strong that my umbrella rattled on it's handle. The metal hinges creaked and groaned as the wind tried to force it closed. One little Chicago storm and my little red umbrella didn't stand a chance. Maybe the Swiss should stick to watches, knives, and chocolate. Maybe I should invest in an awning.