Lately, we've been getting some nice thunder storms rolling through, which gives me something to look forward to during this quiet summer. With gas prices as they are and being down to a single paycheck until the new school year begins, taking trips is out of the question.
I've always loved storms, and the bigger they are, the better they are! There's something about a big storm's pending arrival that gets me excited. I love the smell of the rain just before it arrives. At night, the sound of thunder lulls me to sleep. Often, though, I prefer staying awake through the storm's duration, so I don't miss a single rumble. I love to hear the wind pick up and create the rustling in the trees outside my window. Gratefully, my son sleeps through them, allowing me to savor the moment.
While I love big storms, I do appreciate the danger they can present. Not too long ago, a tornado touched down within 10-20 miles of my house. This part of Texas has a relatively low elevation level, so homes are not built with basements, which would be helpful considering we live in Tornado Alley. Due to the water table, swimming pools must remain filled year-round just so they don't rise up out of the ground. Here, many homes are built on cinder blocks or concrete foundations. Without the basement feature, many of us are sitting ducks should a tornado rip through. I live in a 9-year old pre-fab home that wouldn't stand a chance against a twister, and there is no place for us to take proper shelter. Yet, despite this danger, I relish the storm clouds that roll through with their own brand of music. One of these days, I would love to spend a summer going storm chasing. I would love to get my fill of the wild beauty. Also, storms possess a lot of inspiration; their force is a reminder of our mortality and Man's ultimate inability to tame those forces which wreak havoc on our lives, property, and means of survival.
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