Thunder and Lightening

Did I mention something about wanting lightening and thunder? I think I did. And guess what, we've gotten it the past couple of nights, and it's been amazing.

Jeff and Magda's bedroom is on the second floor with a great view. One can see the city on the hills. Watching the lightening from there is great because you don't just see the flash of light in the clouds, you actually see the lightening bolt itself hitting the ground. It's kind of like one of those cool photos you can buy. After watching the storm for a while, my brother pointed out the lightening rods about 20 meters away from their building. See, they live on a small hill, so in fact they are on of the highest points around in the area. The rods have probably saved them, according to my brother. He says you know the storm is bad when you can smell the electricity. Well, duh.

I remember being absolutely terrified of thunder and lightening. It all started with one of those little v-w vans. The camping one with a top that popped up to make room for a bed, which my brother and I shared (along with about 15 of my stuffed animals. Can't figure out why Jeff always got mad at me over those). One night, while we were camping in Oregon, we had a night of thunder and lightening like I have never experienced. It was loud, constant, and to a ten year old, one of the scariest things ever. There was no question the lightening was right on top of us, and you want to talk about the smell. Oh my, you could smell every snap, crackle, and pop. Of course, I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of it, but there was no walking outside in that storm. We were safe in the car (and no, not because the wheels ground you. Urban legend. Because a car is a Faraday cage, meaning the electricity will stay on the outside and not go inside. Believe me, my mom is a physics teacher) but probably not outside. My poor parents.

Then next night we ended up renting a house in a place called sunriver. We did experience other storms, although nothing like that first one, I was damn glad to be in a home watching out the windows instead of a little flimsy van in the middle of the forest.

Now I think thunder and lightening storms are amazing and beautiful, but still I am glad I am not, repeat not, in a little v-w van.