The nighttime temperatures did not dip cool. Warmer than usual at dawn's first light. As the sun makes it's rising, so does the day's heat. The air is still. The air is thick. The thickness turns one's breathing into an effort instead of an involuntary process. Little beads of perspiration accumulate on my forehead. Slowly, as the day progresses, so does the accumulation of clouds in the distance. Clouds are white. As the day rolls by into afternoon, clouds increase with grey. In the distance, a few tree tops are gently swaying. The swaying continues from tree to tree, as if a slithering snake is pushing back the branches. Closer and closer. There......I feel the breeze upon my face. As quickly as it comes, it also passes. Wait, here comes another sweeping force. The smell of the air has changed. It is sweeter. Breathing has become easier than before. Black clouds are now covering the entire horizon. Thunder building in the distance. Skies grow darker with each passing minute. Winds accumulate with strength and frequency. The excitement in me also builds. One may interpret it as fright, but to me, it's the fascination that every Storm is unique. There! Can you hear it? The rumbles are longer and louder. A flash scattered about. Raindrops the size of quarters dots my shirt. Do you remember "hop scotching" the raindrops, seeing if you could outwit in being "hit"? Another flash, this one brighter than before. An immediate BOOM to follow. The clouds are releasing their moisture all at once. The noise! The noise of heavy rain hitting leaves and roof tops are deafening! But wait, all is well. The Storm moves on to other horizons for others to enjoy just as I have experienced. The air is once again still. Out comes the sun again. The heat slowly returns. The earth's thirst has been temporarily quenched.
back to my Ever Changing Crusades.............
I hope you will enjoy the fascination of summer afternoon thunderstorms similar to the one I have described.
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