The quote from Alice Munro's "Dear Life" compares a dream to the gloomy and melancholic weather of Vancouver. It captures a sense of deep yearning and sadness, emphasizing how both experiences can leave one feeling heavy-hearted and reflective. The imagery of rain evokes a dreamlike quality, suggesting that this longing is both pervasive and difficult to shake off.

Munro’s use of weather as a metaphor illustrates the emotional landscape of the narrator’s experience. Just as Vancouver’s weather can often feel dreary, dreams can carry a similar emotional weight, infusing the heart with a poignant sense of nostalgia and unfulfilled desires. This connection between external weather and internal feelings highlights the complexity of human emotions in relation to our environment.