Thoughts on Weather

When I woke this morning, with the ceiling fan and AC on, I thought, "it's hot!" No wonder...the local weather says we're heading into triple digit heat index, with temps of high 90's today. Oh, good. Another quiet day inside, doing our best to stay cool with the aid of mechanical helpers.

I signed on to Facebook, to discover that there were some heavy thunderstorms, and a possible tornado, in my old neighborhood. It appears, from the posted photos, that trees were down all over the area and I heard that some boats were over-turned and sunk. I'm not a huge fan of rocking, rolling weather. The idea of tornados scares me silly.

Living in the south, I've gotten used to tornado watches and warnings on tv. I've finally learned where they are on the map, in relation to where we reside. That's helped to relieve some of the fear I had when I first moved here. We rarely hear of a touch down close by, but have seen evidence of some pretty rough storms.

Unless it's completely impossible, when a thunderstorm is brewing, my husband spends hours on the front porch watching the skies. As the thunderheads build and billow off in the distant gray, he seems mesmarized. When the thunder rolls across the heavens, it's like music to him, and when the shows of lightening streak, he can be heard saying, "whoa!" with great excitment in his voice. As long as the viewing is from a very distant vantage point, I will sometimes sit with him. But if the rain is here, falling sideways from a dark and noisey sky overhead, you will definitely find me inside the house, talking myself out of the trepidation that fills my innards.

I happen to be happiest in temperatures that are evident in Spring and Fall, but because of the changes in temps, those seasons bring our fiercest storms. If there's anything I've learned about the weather, it's to be prepared for anything. Unlike much of life, there's not a single thing I can do to change any of it, so I just accept it and try to do something, instead, about the way I feel about it.

I've applied that theory to most things in life. Even though storms and fearful circumstances come , I know they they will pass sooner or later. I have to ride them out 'til they do, even if I hide my head in my pillow or scream out after each thunderous rumble. In the end, the calm does come.

It's always such a fun time when my grandchildren come to visit. This Summer, Kimberly and Rebecca have come, but just for a week and with their Mom. It's wonderful having them all, and different from when the girls come alone for longer time. I'm not complaining, mind you! Any time at all with my kids and theirs is special for us, and we try to cater to them so that they feel the same way.

This time, Amy planned to leave the girls here while she would go to Georgia for a few days to see some friends, but as it turned out, Kimberly decided to go with her Mom. Becca stayed behind. We had some routine chores to do yesterday, and Becca jumped right in to help fold clothes and pick up the guest room. She's a great little worker! When we were finished, Papa, Becca and I loaded the van and went over to the fishing spot so Becca could try her hand at catching a trout or a catfish.

It was a beautiful, but warm, day. We chose a spot on the stocked pond where Becca could cast and reel in her line without interfering with other fishing folk. Papa and I set up some folding chairs in the shade, and Becca picked a spot to stand. She wasn't ready to bait the hook, especially with the suggested bait...leeches. (I don't blame her!) Our hero...Papa....did the deed with those slimy black things, and Becca walked off to her special place to begin an earnest effort to catch her fish. We know there were fish in the pond, because we watched two men, over the course of the afternoon, catch one each.

She cast, she trolled, she reeled in, and cast the line again. She didn't have the patience to let the bobber lie still in the water, waiting for the fish 0to come to it. I think she just enjoyed the casting. (Lord knows she'd had plenty of practice, having drawn targets and whales on the cul de sac with sidewalk chalks, and casting the line out to those during the past few days.)

After a few hours, and a number of great pictures of "HuckleBecca Finn" in her straw hat, we decided it was time to head home for dinner. A disappointed ten year old didn't want to leave, but was very good about it. Even though her fish bucket was empty, she apparently had a good time, as she asked if we could do it again before she goes back to NY.

The interest in fishing has never lured me or for Mike, but the being together in the activity with a child is another story altogether. Fish or no fish, we had a 'whale' of a time, and made happy memories together. That's all that counts in the end.