by Dee Holder

Created on: April 20, 2010   Last Updated: April 22, 2010

I could feel the electricity in the air.  I did not need to turn on the TV to know a storm was coming, I could feel it and smell it.  That unique scent triggered a memory I had buried so deep that I was shocked at it's emergence.  My mind traveled back in time to when I was 12, and a similar summer storm was moving towards our house.  I recalled feeling the electricity in the air, that early anticipation of the display of power that the storm was about to unleash. 

I was alone at home that night, my family trusting me for the first time to look after myself,  had gone to the movies and would eat out.  The house was all mine for the next few hours.   Rather than being scared by the arrival of the storm, I was excited.  I loved storms especially summer ones.  I loved display the power in the wind and the lightning.  I loved the sound of the heavy rain beating on the roof, I loved to watch the trees bend and sway as the wind howled through their branches.  Most of all I loved to watch the lightning dance through the sky and then strike the earth with a mighty bang. 

The stronger the storm, the happier I was.  Winter storms were fun, but summer storms were special.  Perhaps it was the warmth of the air, or the intensity of the wind and the rain, perhaps it was the lighting I don't know, but something about those summers storms made my skin tingle and my mind active and excited. Usually my excitement was tempered by my brother's fear, my mother's admonishments to "Get away from that window" or my father's worries about damage to the house.  But tonight, they were gone and a summer storm was on it's way.

It was hot and muggy, all I was wearing was a tee shirt and shorts, my exposed bare skin was glistening all over from sweat.  I was barefoot and could almost feel the floor vibrating under my feet.   I was too hyper to sit and watch TV, and just kept going from window to window to see if the show had started yet.  But at 12 keeping my attention focused on something that was moving slowly proved way to hard,  and eventually I did turn on the TV and soon forgot about the approaching storm.

I felt the electricity in the air surge and then I saw a bright flash come from one of the windows.  I waited in anticipation and then the loud crash I was expecting filled the air.  I knew that I should stay away from the windows, turn off the TV and wait out the

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next Page >>