What is it about a rainstorm that suddenly makes an event more memorable?

Several rainy days come to mind for me … one in high school while watching a football game and laughing hysterically. One in my mid-twenties while walking 10 blocks from the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. One while riding a bicycle from Siesta Key Village back to my home with cars splashing water all over me as they drove by. And, most recently, in our nation’s capital while I was simply trying to eat lunch.

I was in Washington, D.C., for business and decided to make a quick stop for tapas when my plans were thwarted by a sudden storm. It’s almost as if the weather came out of the blue. I kid you not, I had just taken a picture of Capital One Arena, smiling to myself as I walked down 7th at 2:15 p.m., ready to grab an afternoon snack, when the sprinkles started. After contemplating running a block back to the hotel to grab my umbrella, I alternatively decided to duck under a nearby tree with plenty of protection and wait it out. Bold move — but I had two hours and thought it was worth the risk.

After 30 minutes of strangers walking by, some laughing at an obviously umbrella-less person doing her best to avoid the rain, I realized I still needed to eat. I stubbornly remained another five minutes, and, to be honest, had it not been for the mosquitos that began chewing on my right ankle, I might still be there today.

Between my itching ankle and now growling stomach, I held my handbag close to me and ran down the block to a nearby BBQ restaurant, where I could see two people seated in the window. Without knowing a thing about this establishment, I ran inside and grabbed a seat at the bar, hoping I’d made a good choice. The bartender Raul assured me I had, and I quickly ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a side of sweet potato hash, and a Pinot Noir.

Turns out, I had stumbled into Hill Country BBQ, with locations in New York City, LaGuardia Airport and the District. There were several newspaper and magazine articles framed on the wall, showcasing the establishments ‘best of the best’ meals. And when my lunch arrived, I was overwhelmed with the massive mound of pork on my sandwich, as well as enough sweet potato hash to feed a good amount of people — all topped off with an amazing side of not-too-sweet, not-too-spicy BBQ sauce. Right there, seated in the window at a high-top table with some old-school Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney playing in the background, I enjoyed my meal. The only thing that interrupted my pleasant lunch-time surprise was the gentle roll of thunder and occasional crack of lightening.

Although I asked Raul if he had a trash bag I could borrow to wear as a parka on my way back to the hotel, he laughed and said I’d be ok. I waited it out a bit longer until I really had to leave. My trip to D.C. was focused on the Leisure Lifestyle, Trazee Travel and WhereverFamily awards event taking place later that evening, and while arriving to the awards ceremony in soaked clothing with a wet head might also have been a bold move, it was one I was not prepared to present to the good folks at the Kimpton Monaco DC.

After all, who needs a bold move when this memory has now been cemented by a rainstorm?

— Carrie Cox, account executive