The Rainbow Will Come

A couple of months ago, Manny and I went to see the Nitty Gritty Dirt BanD (NGDB), who performed for an extraordinary 60 years and were on their farewell tour. We saw them at The Astro at the La Vista City Centre. (It’s a beautiful venue, by the way.) This was the third time we had seen them, but we felt compelled to see them again. We knew that, unlike some other band’s Farewell Tours, this one was really going to be their last.

What has always attracted us to the NGDB is the positivity of their songs. I’m guessing most of you are familiar with the songs “Fishin’ in the Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles.” When the band sang these songs, the audience chimed in and we all sang in harmony. Manny and I have been fans of the the NGDB for years. That night, they performed a song that neither Manny or I had heard before. It has stuck with me ever since. The name of the song is “Stand a Little Rain”. The passage that touched our hearts was:

“When the storm blows over

Only the strong love remains

If we’re ever gonna see a rainbow

We have to stand a little rain.”

I reflected on our lives and those of the people we love. The challenges everyone has faced, is facing, or will face can be tremendous. Whether it is with our relationships, career/finances, or health—the storms, at times, may feel impossible to overcome. 

Life history has taught me that love and life are not always easy. It has also taught me that storms do not have to destroy us. They can forge a new direction—a better way of living, a healthier way of being, and a deeper appreciation for the calm and peace that eventually follow. Sometimes, like the song reminded me, we have to stand a little rain before we can see the rainbow.

My dear mother, Anne, understood this and had a saying that I find myself frequently repeating: “This too shall pass.” Anne was a Pisces, just like Manny. They have a lot of similarities with one another. They are both compassionate, empathic, and kind-hearted. I don’t know if that is a general Pisces trait—in fact, I don’t know if I even know another Pisces. What I do know is that both of them have taught me something about weathering the storms of life—and about what can be waiting for us on the other side. 

October has always felt like a month of change to me. The days become shorter, the air a little crisper, and the brilliant colors remind us that there can be beauty in letting go and moving forward. Maybe that is one of life’s greatest lessons. The storms will come, and they will pass. The seasons will change, and so will we.

As we welcome October, I hope each of us remembers that when life gets difficult, we don’t always have to know what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes, we simply have to hang on, trust that “this too shall pass,” and be willing to stand a little rain while we wait for our rainbow.

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Happy October, everyone!