Sans umbrella in the suburbs

It  rained here today in the suburbs of Detroit and so, of-course, I took my umbrella along with me when I went out to do errands.  I opened my umbrella each time I got out of my car to walk into a building -which included the post-office, the grocery store, and the library.   But I was the only person using an umbrella at each of those places!   Everyone else just ran through the rain, or waited in their cars for it to stop.

I've noticed this trend for a couple of years now.  I guess most people are too cool to own an umbrella.  Or else they just don't think they need one because everyone drives to where they're going in the suburbs.  And I think this is too bad.  There's something so civilized about umbrellas.  There's also something about being in your own little world below your umbrella that those without them miss out on.  It's also fun to have an umbrella that expresses your personality or fashion sense.

I love my Mona Lisa umbrella - a gift from a friend many years ago.  It's not something I would have ever bought for myself, but I love to use it on rainy days.  I love the smiles I sometimes get because of it.  I took this photo of my grandson, Ben, with my umbrella last year: