We're not a big Black Friday family; we tend toward small gifts and a last-second scramble. So when Thanksgiving was done, and Friday loomed long, rainy, and quiet, we opted to avoid the malls and get outside to Oregon's favorite tourist attraction, Multnomah Falls. Bruce and I had not been there in years (maybe even not together, ever) and I thought it would be a fun time for Vivian, rain or not.
Sure enough, once we braced ourselves for the rain, we had a great time. We only did a short hike, because trails in the Columbia Gorge tend to be steep, and in the driving rain it was slippery in places. We did manage to escape the small crowd of Chinese tourists (I felt right at home!) to find a private waterfall, perfect for splashing.
I bought seven (yes, seven!) new umbrellas before moving back to Portland, because I am determined that I will not use a black umbrella this year. For the first time I felt the wisdom of those many purchases as the water pounded harmlessly off my family.
Hooray for rain, for Bogs, for umbrellas, and raincoats, and Black Friday.