A Very Short Walk

I usually look at the weather on my phone in the evening, so I know what to expect when I wake up. I must have dismissed it as inconsequential, because the chance of rain was 15%. That’s really low, if you consider the chance of no rain would be 85%. I did not check the screen before going out, because I was two minutes late. I blame the clock for that. For some reason it quit working in the middle of the night, and I planned to quit playing a game when the clock chimed 8:00. I stepped out confidently, knowing it shouldn’t rain on me according to last night’s forecast. Goodness! The sky was completely overcast, but I walked up the street. Mist was hitting my face at the top of the street. Going toward the first little stream, I felt the moisture was a bit more than a mist.

I wasn’t cold, but my sweatshirt was not going to repel heavy mist. I turned back, even though the percentage was still only 15%. Yes, I had stopped and checked. Normally, when you change course, the clouds notice and quit spitting. This time the mist continued. I came to a shocking conclusion that I had never thought of before. That figure of 15% really meant the moisture hitting me was at a low rate. Then 50% must mean sprinkling steadily, and 100% would be very heavy rain. If I had worn a water-repellent jacket, I would not have had this amazing revelation. It took me 32 years of walking six days a week to come face to face with this life-changing mathematical fact.