This Side Of The Rainbow Helaine Iris ©2002I recently took a ride to video store to select my evening’s entertainment. A dramatic thunderstorm was passing over as I made my way across town in middle of late afternoon rush hour traffic.
The sky was dark and rain was coming down in torrents. I made my way into store surrendering to inevitable soaking I was unable to prevent.
As I lost myself in search for perfect film to match mood of evening I became aware of sun, suddenly and brilliantly streaming through west windows of store.
Perfect conditions for a rainbow, I thought.
I made a quick decision, grabbed a movie, and blew out of store like a child distracted by bells of an ice cream truck.
“Get in car and drive east,” an inner voice prompted. As I drove down street I felt like a rainbow chaser. Dodging and weaving in and out of traffic with my eyes mostly not on road, searching still black sky for any sign of spectral wonder I knew had to be there.
Yes! There it was. Arching across whole city a perfect rainbow. Each color brilliant and revealing to me it’s momentary magic. I was so excited I wanted to yell to all passing cars, “Look up!”
I pulled into nearest parking lot and jumped out of my car to bask in this vivid gift. Time slowed down. I felt a shift in my awareness as if I were only one witnessing this moment. I stared into magnificent color and began to hear song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” I wondered where Dorothy from “Wizard of OZ” thought “over rainbow” was.