Have you ever seen the end of a rainbow? Do you know what you’ll find there? Well, it turns out that sometimes you’ll find my lilac bush entwined with a rogue grape vine.
But let me back up a little…
We’d been inside most of the day due to lowering skies, drizzling rain and occasional hiccups of thick downpours. The anticipated thunderstorms hadn’t arrived, but it had been a stormy stay-inside-and-clean-read kind of day. The skies seemed to be clearing, we’d just finished dinner, and I was itching to get out and move a bit.
“Hey, wanna go for a walk?” I asked my husband, Kurt.
“Yeah, sure,” he replied.
I left the room to get my shoes on and moments later heard him call out, “Whoa! Check out the rain!”
Oh, no, there goes our walk! I thought, then looked out the window. Sure enough, the rain was pouring down in sheets. The sun, however, had emerged from behind clouds in the western sky, and in its rays, the rain fell like liquid silver. We squinted, trying to look at it, dazzled by the combined brilliance of sun and rain.
“There must be a rainbow out there,” I declared, and I dashed outside into the rain, spinning around in the driveway, scanning the skies.
“Oh! ” I finally cried. “There is one! It’s gorgeous!”
Kurt came outside and we both stared at the intense rainbow forming over our house. It was simply stunning, the most vibrant rainbow I’ve ever seen. It practically pulsed with color, each hue vivid and distinct. I followed its arc over the house and then down, down, down….
“Oh, my gosh! Look!” I said, pointing. “You can see where the rainbow ends! It’s ending right in our yard!”
We both stared. Sure enough the arc of the rainbow came down directly through our grape-vine-covered lilac bush and ended on the grass below.
“That’s unbelievable,” I said. “I’ve never seen a rainbow’s end before.”
We stood, rapt, marveling at the sight.
Then, after a few moments, I added (typically), “I wonder if I can catch it in a picture.”
The rain had eased almost completely by now, so I dashed inside for my camera and rushed back out, quickly taking a few photos.
“Well,” Kurt announced casually as we headed down the driveway, “I know where I’m digging tomorrow!”
We laughed and together turned back to look at the dazzling rainbow over our house. Slowly, a second, faint rainbow formed, arching over the first. We stood in the driveway for long minutes. The rain stopped completely, the clouds parting to reveal brilliant patches of blue. Everything sparkled, bejeweled with raindrops. The rainbows lingered. Finally, we turned to go on our walk.
So, back to my original question: Do you know what you’ll find at the end of a rainbow? It turns out it’s not just my lilac bush and Concord grapes.
There’s treasure to be found.
Nix the comfort zone 
What a wonderful experience. I love the picture of the silver rain and, of course, Kurt’s final comment. I’m smiling big just thinking about your slice. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Amanda. It’s funny but I just went back and restructured this piece and it now has a different lead and ending. (Kurt’s comment made me laugh as well!)
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I love this phrase ” drizzling rain and occasional hiccups of thick downpours.” You captured this peaceful moment beautifully.
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Thanks, Vanessa. I especially appreciate the feedback about the “hiccup” line as I had debated changing it.
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I agree with what vanessaw2007 wrote – you captured this moment beautifully. As I was reading, I was thinking I could use this as a mentor text with my 5th graders. The pacing, the humor, the dialogue, the word choice – it’s all so great!
The picture is unbelievable! The rainbow literally ends right there! Wow.
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Thanks, Dana! I keep looking askance at that spot in my yard. I still can’t believe the rainbow ended there!
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Today I am grateful for the way you capture moments with the camera and your brilliantly written words that go hand in hand. Perhaps that is the end of the rainbow.
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What a lovely compliment! Thanks, Amy!
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You nailed that rainbow, Molly! They never come out in my pix. Such a magical moment, though. With this crazy weather pattern we are in, I have a feeling we’ll have a few more rainbows. I hear thunder approaching as I type this.
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We had quite a storm here yesterday evening and found a stunned fledgling beneath a tree. On the advice of some experts, we took him in for the night –poor bedraggled soaked thing!–and will try to release him this morning. Fingers crossed!
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Not one but two rainbows. Wow! Since we moved to the valley we rarely see any rainbows. I guess it just be the location. How great that you captured both.
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I never thought about geographic location and rainbows. I imagine that would have an impact. Interesting!
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You are not going to believe this, but I was driving in a rain shower and the rainbow ended right in front of my car! I couldn’t get a picture. I tried, but I was driving and the windshield was wet. I love your story and have found a poem there.
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Margaret, I love that you also saw the end of a rainbow! I am a bit concerned that you tried to take a photo while driving–eek! Be careful, my friend! Carol also found a poem and at her nudge, I’m working on writing one as well. I’d love to see yours!
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From beginning to end, I fell in love with your story. Unfortunately, our huge thunder and lightning storm came when it was dark so I could not enjoy any part of it because the electricity kept going off and we were too busy trying to connect. (LOL) If inclined Molly, send me your rainbow shot and your thoughts wrapped up in a poem. Here’s my found poem made up of your comments: rain fell like liquid silver/pouring down in sheets/clouds parted/everything sparkled, bejeweled with raindrops/rainbow practically pulsed with color
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Thanks for the found poem, Carol, and the nudge to create a poem from that moment. I’ll work on it!
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Molly, I do look forward to a new poem by you, specifically crafted from this experience. We had a whopper of a rainstorm a couple of nights ago.
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This was such a joy to read…and beautiful photos! 🙂
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Thanks! It was a lovely moment. I’m still a bit rainbow-dazzled!
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Oh, I love that phrase-Rainbow Dazzled. That sounds like a great title for a book. 🙂
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Wonderful post! Full of treasure!
We had a rainbow end in our dooryard once many years ago, and I was so amazed by it – this brought me back to that day. Everyone I told said they didn’t think you could ever see where the rainbow ends. But I know you can! And so do you!!
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Thanks, Donna! I was so glad I was more or less able to capture it in a photo. Margaret Simon commented that she’s also seen a rainbow’s end. We three are certainly among the lucky!
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I sure wish I could have captured it with my camera – but there were no cellphones then – let alone phones with cameras – and I didn’t want to miss it searching for MAYBE a camera with film in it! Glad you caught yours!
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