Natures alarm clock went off at 1:30 am this morning. A deep slumber was interrupted by a brilliant lightning flash and a quick crash of thunder with a long rumble down the canyon. So many times, it seems the rain is just hanging up there waiting for a reason to fall. A sudden jar from the thunderclap and the rain is unleashed and pounding on the metal roof. With a jagged flash and deafening crash, sleep is forgotten and the wild ride of a thunderstorm in the dark of night takes the whole stage. The winds were roaring as the rain pounded hard and then relented as in taking a breath and then pounded even harder.
There is something so alive about a thunderstorm. The billowing top as the clouds build and build, the lightning flashing from inside causing the whole thunderhead to pulse with light and then the unleashing of sheets of rain to pound the earth and trees and awaken dry creeks to run wild once again.
Little Red Creek behind our home was quickly transformed from a trickling meander to a reddish-brown torrent with waves. The torrent was raging in the dark and the roar from the canyon masked reality. So, I cautiously splashed my way down the muddy trail, a small creek in itself, to approach the roaring voice in the dark. My rain splattered beam of light revealed a river some twenty feet across and three feet deep. I found myself gazing with awe as my seemingly feeble point of light revealed whitecaps on the racing waters. The cacophony of boulders, crashing into each other as the waters tumbled them along the creek bottom was symphonic. I found it mesmerizing to watch those raging waters roaring through the inky dark. It was hard to pull away and return to my warm and dry home.
There is a deep void left in the moment as the storm which quickly came, has just a quickly moved on. After several waves of flash, crash and pouring rain, the pulsing storm, an entity in itself, moved down the canyon to nourish other lands. Suddenly, the metal roof was quiet. Echoes still played in the dark as in the distance, thunder rumbled fainter and fainter until silence reined once more. The adrenaline rush which began with the bedroom unbearably brilliant with the first lightning flash and the immediate thunderclap which rattled windows and set the dogs to barking, that rush doesn’t fade quickly. We found ourselves quietly gathered in the dark living room, whispering accolades for the storm as we all slowly relaxed and realized the early hour.
In just a few short hours after we managed to fall back asleep, we found ourselves observing our normal morning vigil of sipping coffee from the dark deck and absorbing the minute changes in the sky. There was the lingering scent of a freshly washed landscape. The star-studded sky was clear with an occasional lightning flash some 40 miles away.
The early birds, the poorwills, the robins, the chats, the flycatchers, all started their chatter on Nature’s morning shift. The slowly lightening sky, lit with pastel shaded, tattered clouds, revealed a magical scene. Those soft lively colors were being caught in the raindrops still clinging to branches and leaves, the deck railing and table. Little prisms of changing light were dancing all about us. It was a moment to hold one’s breath and marvel in silence.
The after storm chill had us wearing light jackets and we sat and sipped and immensely enjoyed the moment. Natures moments are always fleeting. We embraced the special experience, tucked it fondly in the “New Memory” file and went on about our day.
Moments like this become a part of you. Think about writing your experience out the best you can. Words are merely a prompt to resurrect the sensual experience: the light, the sounds, the smells, and the touch of chill. Close your eyes and take a short vacation, safely!
Enjoy