Bad weather blessing

Everyone just loves to complain about Indiana's weather. Whether it's seeing your breath in May, enduring freezing nights in June, sixty-degree days in January or latent winter snows, no one ever seems to be satisfied. Criticisms ring through the countryside louder than Hoosier Basketball. \n"It is so cold out and it's June!" \n"I can't feel my feet." \n"My house is flooded!" \nBah, everyone's a critic. \nI, however, say keep the weather coming. It not only keeps things interesting but it also brings people together.\n"Brings people together," you ask? Yep, that's my argument. Think about it. If it weren't for those spastic weather changes, what would people talk about? Politics? Not likely. Finals? Hardly. Anyone who is like me has long ago forgotten those tests along with all that information we spent so little time cramming for in our heads. So what else is there? Sure, there is IU basketball, but basketball is seasonal. Weather is forever. \nTherefore it is a good thing that the midwest weather can't make up its mind. It gives us all something to talk about. Maybe that's why people in other regions are notorious for not getting along. For example, say two people meet on the street in California. I sincerely doubt they talk about the weather. If they did, their conversation would consist solely of, "Yep, its sunny again. Surprise." Maybe people in California talk about riots instead, I don't know. If they could talk about the weather, then I'm willing to bet they would all be friendlier to each other. Maybe in the end there wouldn't be any riots to talk about. Just something to think about.\nFurther, ride any bus and you will see my point even better portrayed. Drenched public transportation patrons will trade weather tragedies back and forth, remedies there-of and future forecast predictions. People share umbrellas, offer rides and generally do what they can. Heck. Think of all those crowded buses on rainy days. I don't know about you, but what I see is a lot of people making friends. That alone refreshes my faith in humankind.\nFrom an economics point of view, just take into account all the extra transportation patronage that Hoosier weather brings in every year. Every three or four people is one more pothole filled. Umbrellas left behind are, I'm sure, donated to charity. So it's just generally a good situation for everyone! If only all this good sentiment could be worldwide. \nGranted, with everything there are some negatives that must be taken into consideration. That I am not too naive to accept, and, actually, I will freely admit. For example:\n"The weather causes delays and makes me late." Good, we rush around too much as it is. \n"I can't stand getting caught in the rain." Hey, free shower (some people need it!). \n"My basement is flooded." Ok, I'll give you that one. That bites. But basically you get my point. Just about every cloud has its silver lining. \nIn the end, I think you all see what I'm getting at. Indiana's weather isn't so much a nuisance as it is a godsend. While on one hand, weather can be seen helping out local commerce, on the other it is bringing people together, promoting international peace and at worst -- a bunch of orphans are getting free umbrellas. Sounds great to me. \nSo, hey, the next time you're caught in the rain and waiting on that bus that only runs on the hour, just smile to yourself and think of all those friends you're about to meet.