The View from Here

Last night we went to bed with warnings of possible tornadoes and straight line winds coming in the wee hours of the morning. Why does that type of weather always seem to come in the dark of night? I woke up at 1:30am to lightning streaking across the sky in an amazing display of nature’s fury, and then couldn’t turn off my brain and get back to sleep.

Dan woke up a little bit later and we turned on the tv so that we would know if we needed to head downstairs. The news station is on the mountain above our home, so if they say they’re heading to their safe place, we know that’s our cue to go, too. We slept fitfully as we listened to the warnings increase as the line of storms made it’s way across the state, Marley between us sleeping away, Shiva coming and going, agitated by the storm. Shiva’s evil glare…also known as her ‘look of love’.

We woke again to the tv blaring a warning signal, but the tornado was on the other side of the city. Most of night was like this until finally the storms moved east and past us. We both woke up at dawn feeling like we’d been chewed up and spit out, as Mom used to say. I was so grateful not to have to play a concert today or do anything official. Today was planned to be a day of light yard work and rest.

It is always so beautiful after a big storm rolls through; the sky is blue and clear, the air fresh and sweet. A good metaphor for life, too. Sometimes storms come not to knock us down, but to help us discover our hidden strength, clear our paths, and remind us to be grateful for better days. I know that I am feeling gratitude for the calm after the storm, a peaceful and beautiful day at home before a busy last week of classes begins.