Skip to main content

Fred, the Rainbow That Stole My Heart

Let’s face it…. Rainbows are fleeting wonders born from just the right mix of sunlight and rain. They stretch across the sky as if nature herself is painting in real time, leaving us in awe of their beauty. Over the years, I’ve seen countless rainbows, each unique and special in its own way. But there’s one rainbow that stands out above the rest—a rainbow I named Fred.

Fred wasn’t just a rainbow to me. Fred was a memory, a moment frozen in time, and a reminder of the magic that exists in just the ordinary.

On the day Fred and I met, it was one of those days where the weather couldn’t quite make up its mind. Oh, of course, Indiana!  A steady drizzle had been falling all afternoon, but every now and then, the clouds would break just enough to let a few rays of sunlight peek through. I was on a walk, lost in thought, when I turned a corner and saw it.  Fred was full frontal in his glory!

Fred was a full, vibrant arc stretching from one end of the horizon to the other. But what made him special wasn’t just his size or intensity; it was the way he seemed to glow. The colors were richer, bolder than any rainbow I’d ever seen. It felt like Fred wasn’t just there by chance—he was there for me.  And only me!

But why Fred, right? I don’t know why I named the rainbow Fred. Maybe it’s because Fred sounds like the name of a dependable friend—someone who shows up when you need them most. That’s exactly what this rainbow felt like: a friend who appeared out of nowhere to lift my spirits.

Fred didn’t just hover in the sky. He radiated warmth, as if to say, “Hey, don’t take life too seriously. Even in the rain, there’s beauty.”

Like most men, Fred didn’t last long, of course. Rainbows never do. But his brief visit left a lasting impression. He reminded me to slow down and savor the small, magical moments that life offers—moments we might otherwise overlook in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Since meeting Fred, I’ve noticed a new part of me… new and alive!  C’mon, let’s go dance in the rain!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

I Tried to Teach My Cat About Cryptocurrency — Here's What Happened Spoiler: she walked across the keyboard and may now own part of a meme coin. Like any good millennial with more anxiety than savings, I recently decided to dip my toe further into the murky digital waters of cryptocurrency. But rather than suffer alone, I thought: why not share the knowledge with someone in my house who has even less financial literacy than I do? Enter: Mittens , my cat. She has no job, no bills, and spends most of her time licking her own butt. In other words, she’s the perfect crypto investor. Lesson 1: What is Cryptocurrency? I began by sitting Mittens down and explaining the basics: "Crypto is decentralized digital money that uses blockchain technology to secure transactions." She responded by biting a power cord. Which, honestly, is probably what most people should do when they hear about blockchain for the first time. Lesson 2: The Blockchain I showed her a diagram ...

How One Feral Feline Turned His Life Around — And Why He Now Offers Financial Advice

Four years ago, he was living under a bush behind a Waffle House, dodging raccoons and licking discarded hot dog wrappers for sustenance. Today? He lounges on a patio chair like a retired tech billionaire, staring into the distance like he’s about to drop a TED Talk titled “How I Outsmarted the System — and My Humans”. Meet Maurice. Former alley cat. Current real estate tycoon of cardboard boxes, investor in emotional manipulation, and lifestyle influencer to other neighborhood pets who still simply eat kibble like peasants. He now enjoys: Two passive incomes (aka two humans who feed him on different schedules and don’t talk to each other), His own house — well, actually, their house — but he lets them stay, and rent-free! And a personal chef who thinks she’s just “opening cans,” but let’s be real — that’s meal prep! Maurice didn’t claw his way to the top (he was declawed at the shelter, thank you very much). He purred his way there. He found a woman with a soft heart and poor b...

Minimalism sounded great until my cats claimed the donation box as a second home

So, I live in a super-small space with three cats, one mismatched coffee table set, and a growing suspicion that I am no longer in charge here.  Like any adult whose Pinterest boards are probably better organized than my actual life, I decided to "declutter." I imagined a sleek, tranquil space with clean lines, neutral tones, and no shame. I now sit atop a pile of half-sorted Goodwill bags, sipping coffee from a novelty mug that says “I Paused My Show for This.” Let’s discuss: Step 1: Mentally Prepare to Let Go of the Clutter — and Your Dignity Decluttering, in theory, is supposed to bring peace. In practice? It's a passive-aggressive negotiation with your past self. “Do I need six half-burned candles?” “What if I suddenly become the kind of person who hosts dinner parties and needs twelve fine water glasses?” “This broken garlic press has been with me since college. That means something, right?” At one point, I asked my cat BoBean if she thought I should ...