I awakened at 3:30 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep. I opted to get out of bed about an hour later. Although I never heard the sound of thunder, the night sky was ablaze with lightning.
Interestingly, I was not the only one with an interest. I noticed at some point that outside lights on a home across the golf course had also been turned on.
Once out of bed, I decided to go upstairs for a better view. From the second floor of our home, the view is panoramic, and the hills are easily visible. Intermittent lightning in the early morning hours cast a vivid view.
I could hear the sound of "One Stormy Night" by the Mystic Moods Orchestra playing inside my head. I bought the album in vinyl over fifty years ago. I also have it on a CD. Of course, the sound filtering through my head with the light show taking place in the night sky was pretty amazing.
Though I had not seen a weather report, the thought of hail crossed my mind. I've seen cars following a hail storm. I didn't want to be the owner of one of those vehicles.
Because of boxes in our garage from the recent move, two vehicles are parked on the driveway. The Miata gets preferential treatment because it has a rag-top. It is parked safely inside.
The early morning lightning triggered a memory from well over twenty years ago. We had just moved into our new home in Henly. We figuratively were high and lifted because of our home's elevation. The view from the ridge we lived on had a spectacular view of the land below us.
The General and I were both home. It must have been on a weekend, or maybe we had taken off work. I don't remember, but I clearly remember the booming sound when lightning struck the chimney.
What I didn't know immediately was the extent of the damage. Electronics including televisions, computers, and phones were all fried. In addition, the electric hot water heater was also wasted. The lightning reportedly exited the house through a copper pipe in the foundation.
Until that point, I guess I operated on the notion that being inside one's home during a lightning storm was like playing King's X - You were off limits from danger.
Actually, as I recall we used the term "King's X" in childhood whenever we wanted a brief break from a game. Does anyone use that term anymore? I don't remember when I last heard it.
Most of us operate on the notion that what we don't know can't hurt us. The truth of the matter is that lighting can jump through windows. Do I need to say that again? Lightning can jump through windows.
About a third of the people who are injured by lightning are inside their homes or another structure.
Thankfully, other than forfeiting a few hours of sleep, all is well in my world. It is not raining outside. I just saw a golf cart drive past the window in our kitchen. Surely, golfers would NOT play golf in the rain.
By the way, during a lightning storm, you play it safe if you stay out of the water. That includes inside your home. Don't shower, take a bath, or hand-wash dishes. More often lightning enters a home through pipes or wires. You don't want to be in water when that happens.
Statistically, the chances that someone is struck by lightning is 1 in 1.9 million. For homes, the number is a surprising 1 in 200.
All My Best!
Don
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