THUNDERSTORMS

I like to see a thunderstorm,

A dunder storm,

A blunder storm,

I like to see it,

Black and slow

Come stumbling down the hill.

I like to hear a thunderstorm,

A plunder storm,

A wonder storm,

Roar loudly

At our little house

And shake the window sills.

Elizabeth Coatsworth

Thunderstorm warning, tornado warning, locally heavy downpours with possible hail - that's today's forcast so today's track meet has been cancelled. I've yet to see any big weather, but the radar shows it's been all around, just not in my neck of the woods. I'm disappointed; I love thunderstorms! Or, up to a point, I should say. They can be too close and intense for comfort, rattling the walls and sending Tim (the border collie) diving under the bed. He doesn't like them at all! Plus hail is never, never, ever good; especially if you have outside animals. (not to mention cars, windows, patios, plants, etc!) So it's not all bad that we missed the excitement. We could use the rain though (the Top 2 most stated weather comment in South Texas (except last summer!) right after the Number 1"Dang, it's hot!! (the "dang" is optional; feel free to substitute a more forceful exclamation :)...) Oh well, always too much or not enough. I guess that's why people have been talking about the weather since... well, you know... people have ALWAYS talked about the weather!

I lived in Central California for the better part of fourteen years. We rarely, rarely, had the dramatic weather we have down here. I remember maybe three real thunderstorms during the time I lived there. That was one of the things I really missed about home! When we were planning to move back to South Texas I would talk to the boys about the things that would be different here; things they would have to get used to, things they would miss, and all the things they had to look forward to. I told them all about South Texas' dramatic weather; and the thunderstorms, I told them, they wouldn't believe until they witnessed them! About a month after we got here they experienced their first "doozy" of a storm while at camp. I wasn't there to reassure them; the seventeen year old counselor was terrified, the winds hit 50 mph, there was lightening all around, and the screen door blew off their cabin. Chico (my youngest) said he thought they were probably gonna die! Maybe that was a little TOO dramatic! - they're best when they're scary enough to make you wince or jump but not so much that you fear for your life!

Anyway, I'm staying inside and cozy just in case! Instead of chips and cold sandwiches at the track meet, I think we'll have toasty, bubbly, cheesy sandwiches with a tossed salad. Maybe even a game of Yahtzee for dessert! You stay warm and dry too! Love, RED