Monday, September 10, 2012

The Tempest

I struggled to get the back on my earring and shook my head in exasperation as it slipped from my fingers. "I'm hurrying, Honey! Almost ready!" I called to my patiently waiting husband. I could see him fiddling with the remote as I snuck one last look in the mirror. My hair, which I had spent a good 20 minutes flat ironing, was already starting to curl ever so slightly in the increasing humidity. Some things couldn't be helped, I thought.

I was looking forward to going to dinner and a movie with him tonight, our date night carved out of our busy schedules. He grinned as I bustled through, finally ready. "I think we're about to get some rain, " he said as we passed the large picture window in the living room. He paused and I looked out, too. Dark clouds, unseen just an hour earlier, snuck onto the horizon in the northern sky.

Rain anytime in a drought stricken region is welcomed, but this also carried the promise of something more than just a downpour. Laden with moisture, these clouds took on the colors of a spectacular bruising, as if the storm was savagely battling, pummeling and kicking from within, straining for escape.

In between two heartbeats, the tempest heralded its fury with a lightening bolt so intense I could see only a livid white for an instant. The thunder blast just afterwards rocked even my breathing.

My husband looked at me, eyes widened and with a smile. Turning around from our intended path through the utility room and to the car, he touched the handle of the front door and held out his arm to me. I smiled, shook my head a little and set down my purse. We headed to the front porch and settled into the large Adirondak chairs for a front row view.

Rain punched its way through the clouds and fell so quickly that it overwhelmed the capacity of the earth to absorb it and pools formed. The sweet companion of the rain, the aroma, soothed apologetically for her blustering spouse.The streams flowed off the roof in torrents even as the clouds continued their struggle to contain the ferocious passion of the upheaval. Massive electrical currents within the clouds flashed red and then orange, until the skies ceded control and spat down small hailstones as well. The grass knelt down flat and the smaller trees swayed to the side in obesiance at the power.

Then, like a child recovering from a tantrum, it was over, save a few more hiccups of rain and an odd hailstone or two.

I looked over at my husband. "You ready to get to the movie?"

He winked. "I think we've already had the best show around, but let's go see what they've got."





67 comments:

  1. Shelly wonderfully written from the heart. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

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  2. You are blessed! How wonderful. We had that storm (or its twin) on Friday.

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    1. vanilla: We are! And I do think it's the same system you all had. We got it Sat. evening-

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  3. Now that IS great writing Shelly! I felt as if I was on that front porch with you. Loved your husband's comment right at the end. It must have been quite a sight. Hope all is well with you over there.

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    1. thisisme: It was a wonderful, although brief storm. Anything that brings rain at this point, we are immensely grateful for~

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  4. I hear you, Shelly, all the way from Tampa Bay, the Lightning Capital of the World. Your enrapturing description of the power and fury unleashed by a storm was as breathtaking as experiencing the phenomenon first hand. I love the aftermath of a storm when all creation is washed clean and the air sweet and cool. Thank you for a very pleasurable post, dear Shelly, and have a splendid week ahead!

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    1. Shady: Lightening still has me a little hesitant, but I do love to watch a good storm. Thank you for stopping by- and watch those lightening bolts!

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  5. I really liked this scene. So much for straightening your hair! There's nothing like a big rain after a dry spell.

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    1. Theresa: With the humidity and my hair's tendency to curl already, I should just throw my flat iron away...

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    2. It's raining here today, and I just took the dog for a walk. I'm afraid to look in the mirror!

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    3. Theresa: Ha! I know exactly what you mean~

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  6. Rain punching its way through the clouds.

    I love that.

    I imagine a thunderstorm is a different thing in Texas than it is in Minnesota. I'd like to see it -- as long as the cellar door isn't too far away. No point in flying away!

    Yours in the flat iron,

    Pearl

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    1. Pearl: Because of the humidity (I think) we don't have to worry too much with the tornadoes, but the lightening and thunder get ferocious. I could watch storms for hours.

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  7. I felt I was right there with you! Scared. Then safe.

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    1. Sandie: The lightening is what makes me want to be inside, but the rest of the bluster is what I love.

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  8. I LOVE the line about rain punching. So well said! The rain elicits such contradictory sentiments. Your writing is wonderful and my hair also curls after flat ironing :( New to your blog!

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    1. Saumya: Delighted you stopped by! There's something so attractive to me in the wildness of the storms. And darn that humidity- I want straight hair!

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  9. I like the way you didn't fight to get to the car for your night out but settled back to enjoy the momentary show of weather engulfing you. Very visual.

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    1. Stephen: It was an amazing storm I'm so glad we didn't miss. Nature really is spectacular~

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  10. I love watching a storm it is so great as long as I am safely inside and not out driving in the storm..........

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    1. Jo-Anne: I, too, am so glad we weren't already driving in it!

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  11. I wish I could have sat there with you - there's nothing like a raging summer rainstorm! I love the thunder and lightning and the amazing smell of wet earth.

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    1. Karen: I went to sleep with that wonderful smell still in my nostrils. Better than a sleeping pill~

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  12. A great story. I love thunderstorms and torrents of rain. (as long as it doesn't flood)

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    1. Belle: I'm with you- no floods, but plenty of good rain!

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  13. Dearest Shelly,
    Good Morning, my friend. I had really wonderful morning reading about the Tempest!!! We are expecting the Typhoon season soon. Made me wish not another damage this year in Japan.
    You two are so lovely; I liked the way your husband answered. And haha, I have a really straight hair, so bothersome to curl every time I wash my hair.
    Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. orchid: Oh, my dear friend Miyako, too bad we can't trade our hair textures for a little while so you can enjoy curly and I can enjoy straight! And you all are in my prayers this typhoon season- no damaging storms. Take care and be safe!

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  14. So many great images here to like! I especially enjoyed the storm pummeling its way out of the clouds, the phrase "between two heartbeats", the sky spitting hail and the grass kneeling flat. Wonderful ways to capture the storm!

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    1. jenny_o: My goodness, it was a barn burner- colors and vividness, booms and crackles. Loved it!

      Jenny, do you have a blog? I've looked for one on your profile and want to be sure I'm not missing it.

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    2. I do not have a blog, although I've now added my email to my profile. In order to comment on some of the blogs I liked, I needed to create a google account, and the blog capability comes with it. I've sent you an email explaining more :)

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    3. jenny_o: I am so glad you are in the blogging world- you add so much love and warmth.

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    4. Ah, kind words - you are a great hostess and make us all feel welcome - thank you!

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  15. Holy Cow girl I felt I was right there with you watching the entire storm!! Very descriptive and an enjoyable read!
    How was the movie??

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    1. Saimi: Gotta love a storm! The movie was good, but I enjoyed watching the storm more.

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  16. We have just had mainly boring rain lately, but we'LL take it.

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    1. esbboston: I'm with you. We'll take rain, even if it just comes by itself. So glad to get any of it~

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  17. I simply love your use of words and I also love a thunder storm. Nature is so awesome.

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    1. Odie: There's just something about the power of a storm that will always attract me, I think~

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  18. Dear Shelly, I like your husband's sense of humor and also his sense of the importance of simply being on that porch with you. You know, Shelly, you write so well. I always find your posts provocative. By that, I mean that they provoke thought in me, and I appreciate being invited to go beyond where my mind is when I sit down at the computer. You introduce me to such interesting people and happenings. Thank you for enlarging my life. Peace.

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    1. Dee: I'm overwhelmed at your kind words- thank you! But you know, that's how I feel when I read your pieces- provoked to better thought. Love having a friend like you~

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  19. Beautiful, Shelly! I felt like I was right there on the porch with you and your husband enjoying the powerful beauty of the storm. It's great that you and your husband took the time to take in and appreciate nature's drama. So often we're in a hurry and don't take time to stop and look. We have a thunderstorm due any moment here and, inspired by your and your husband, I'm headed for the front porch!

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    1. Dr. kathy: As I get older, I'm learning to slow down purposefully. You are right- we need to take time and look. Enjoy your thunderstorm- I hope it's spectacular!

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  20. It felt so good reading through. Wonderfully written.

    Nas

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  21. Last night we finally got rain. It is a drought area here. Ranchers running out of grass and farmers of dryland crops watching it shrivel to the ground. So it was a treat and blessing last night.

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    1. Renegades: We've been in drought since before summer, and I know what you mean. I was so thankful we had this, although it was only about 4/10". We had another shower a few weeks ago, and that's been it for many months. It is certainly better than no rain at all!

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  22. Shelly,
    It is a fortunate couple that knows how to settle back and enjoy "the show" whether at home or elsewhere.

    Good for you both!

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    1. Marsha: There is so much to enjoy around us like this thunderstorm...I hope I learn more and more to appreciate things like this.

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  23. You captivate! I love the relationship of the married couple displayed in the metaphor of a powerful storm, how the rain takes on the role of soothing the blustering spouse. That was powerful and it spoke directly to my heart. I have a feeling that you and Joe are not like that though, because you are able to enjoy the beautiful nature all around, whether you are having a silent meal, or watching the real show of nature's fury. You are both kind and it shows through your writing without you even saying it. This is what a brilliant writer does. Tells the truth about life by showing it.

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    1. Jenny: You are always so kind- thank you! Actually, when it started storming, it made me think of a couple we know. He is very opinionated and pretty strident, especially politically, and she is just as sweet as can be. So when that wonderful rain scent came with all the noise of the storm, they came to mind almost immediately!

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  24. Ha, and you said on my blog that you're not a writer! Ha. You're awesome. Really enjoyed this!

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    1. Lydia: Ah, thank you! I just meant in the published, professional sense. And, it's always good to have rain, no matter what it brings with it~

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  25. I love a good storm and rain. Much more exciting. This is what memories are made of. Just enjoying the pleasures that come by surprise.

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    1. Nonnie: It's those surprisingly simple pleasures that linger the longest, it seems. And they are my favorites!

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  26. You write so vivid and beautiful. So glad to hear that the rain didn't deter your date night but made it all the more magical.

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    1. Simone: Thank you, friend- I hope you have many magical nights now that you are recovering!

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  27. Wonderful! I love a good rainstorm. Delicious!It's rainy here too, i love it!

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    1. Crystal: There's nothing like a good storm to make me feel rejuvenated- hope we get some more rain, too!

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  28. Tahoe doesn't get a lot of lightning, but when it did, Dad would pile all of us into the station wagon so we could follow the show.

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  29. Saturday hugs to you Shelly. ((((Shelly))))

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    1. Just Be Real: Thank you! Sending them back to you~

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  30. All I can say is Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

    And did you ever get to that movie theater movie?

    One of my favorite things is to sit on the porch and watch the rain, and well, I guess just sitting on the porch.

    What a treasure you have in your sweet husband.

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    1. Jamie: We did get to the movies, and even though it was just weekend before last, I remember that storm in vivid detail while I'm already having trouble remembering what happened in the movie. And thank you, yes, I am truly blessed with my husband~

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