Thunderstorms

One minute the sky was blue and clear, the next dark and threatening. So dark that I almost thought night had fallen. The air grew thick and heavy, as if a sponge was about to shed its entire soggy contents. The television beeped a severe storm warning as the wind picked up and tree boughs danced wildly.

The sky unzipped and the deluge fell, painting the air white with streams of rain. Thank goodness I had just walked Sugar. I could barely see the cars in the parking lot through the curtain of water descending, pooling on the steaming blacktop.

Thunder cracked loud and close, followed by lightning that forked jaggedly across the sky, veins of brightness against the black thunderclouds. It was wild. It was crazy. It was refreshing. It was cleansing. It felt good even though the power went out and we had to light a bazillion candles for a few hours.

Sometimes life throws you a curve. Sometimes the change comes with darkness. Often it's packed with power and danger and unusual effects. You have no choice except to ride it out. But after it sweeps past, you feel energized, refreshed, clean. If life throws you a curve, light a candle or twenty and hang in there. This too shall pass.