Vi’s View: There’s No Rain in Homecoming… Or Maybe There Is

Has the rain been getting to you lately? It has for me a little bit.

If you’ve been in the Stony Brook area for the past two months, you’ll know how much it has rained — an awful lot for fall. Yet, no matter how much it has rained lately, people still showed up for Homecoming. 

I’ll be honest, I was worried how Homecoming would look like this year. Last year, Homecoming Day was perfect. The weather was not too cold or too hot, the leaves reached their peak orange colors and had the right crunch. This year, it really wasn’t a question of if it was going to rain, but rather would the rain affect the Homecoming tailgate.

Instead of seeing BBQ smoke weaving its way through the air, the rain pitter-pattered on top of colorful tents. Instead of seeing many children running around the tailgate area, the few who did attend clung to their parents in order to avoid the rainfall.

Despite the rain, the most important thing was the sea of Stony Brook red rain ponchos.

During the Homecoming tailgate, everyone walked around wearing a red poncho, enjoying the events as best as they could. Once the rain stopped, everyone’s spirits rose dramatically. It was like seeing the rainbow after the rain. 

If there was one word to describe this year’s Homecoming, it’s unity. Even with the wind and rain, the Stony Brook community still showed up. Walking around, you could hear the occasional, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you made it!” I was proud to see how strong the Stony Brook spirit is.

Now, I’m just hoping it’s not going to rain on Halloween. And, I hope this is the last time I talk about the rain – at least for a little while.