(Some people don't like to do that and would think I'm a little nuts, I know. Like my grandmother who used to light candles in every window to ward off lightning. My dad as a kid, however, would run out into the storm, most likely sending her into a panic, poor woman.)
Watching an approaching storm is like watching a movie - like one of those blockbusters featuring tornadoes bent on crushing the main characters under a barn - only it's better, because it's real.
The other night I was reading on my sofa when I noticed the sky rapidly getting darker. I put my book down, opened the front door and stood on the top step. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling a cold new wind on my warm skin. As the storm approached I watched the black, low-lying clouds move swiftly overhead and marvelled at the utter blackness coming towards me.
Suddenly the whole sky lit up, and a bolt of lightning descended over the hills. The wind blew harder and became chillier. The trees swayed and the leaves rustled as they performed a mad dance. Lightning struck again, throwing a white light over the rooftops. After that the rain came, cold heavy drops falling at a slant onto the porch where I stood. Reluctantly, I went back inside.
A thunderstorm is one of those things that illustrates just how powerful nature is, like volcanoes erupting, ocean waves crashing on a rocky cliff, or blizzards raging across prairie lands.
For me, that beats super-high resolution images any day.
Are you the kind of person who likes to stand outside and watch an approaching storm? Please leave a comment.
You take after your Dad. I loved thunderstorms when I was young and I wanted to be outside when they were at their worst. Yes, your grandmother was so scare of them that, if alone in the house, she would rush to a neighbour's house if she saw a storm coming. I surely remember those candles in every window.
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