I set up an appointment to interview with a doctor for the newspaper article I was working on and put on my Scroll badge.

I knew it was raining, but hadn’t thought to look oustide before I opened the door in my new black slacks and loafers.

I realized as I sloshed through the flooded parking lots with water up to my calves that it had been a mistake. A very silly mistake. Hilarious, in fact, and though the students driving by might not have been able to see my eyes beneath the brim of my favorite black hat (a poor, but highly fashionable substitute for an umbrella), I had little doubt my foolishly broad smile was less than obvious.

I was reminded of the time I spent this summer in Alaska, working at the state fair in Palmer. A little girl about the age of four paraded in front of my booth wearing a duck yellow raincoat that went so low it almost hit her ankles, her matching yellow rain-boots poking out from underneath. She was hopping about in such a way as to guarantee that she found the very deepest parts of the puddles.

Just outside of the Joseph Fielding Smith Building I encountered an enormous puddle, and thinking of this little girl, and of the little girl I used to be, I knew there was but one thing to be done. In one vigorous movement I landed exactly in the deepest of it, drenching myself and the poor freshman walking next to me in a wave of icy water. It was much deeper than I had anticipated.

I turned immediately to gage his reaction, hoping he would be forgiving. Seeing his face was almost more enjoyable than jumping in the first place. His mouth first opened in complete shock, and continued to stay open as it twisted into an incredulous smile.

“What the?!” was his exclamation. I stuck out my hand and said, “What’s your name?” I shook his cold hand with my wet one, and very seriously apologized for getting him wet. We both erupted in laughter which continued until we parted ways between the library and the Eliza R. Snow Building.

By the time I got home to change, make hot chocolate and put on clean socks, my toes were white and pruny.

If ever you find you have become a stressed-out, sleep-deprived, overworked college student, and the weather gets too cold to smell the roses, throw a snowball, walk in the mud or maybe even jump in a puddle or two. You just might make a new friend.