Feb 19 2016
Friends
The kitties and I were yanked out of our (in my case) much-needed beauty sleep last night by a wild and crazy storm. At times like this, I wish my house was not quite so well equipped with acres of glass and skylights, since I felt like I was right in the middle of the storm, with the thunder shaking the house, rain and hail blasting the roof/walls and lightning flashing every which where. The ocean was pretty active this morning, dashing itself spectacularly against the rocks, so I don’t think we’re out of the woods (or storms) just yet.
It’s a dramatic change from the past few days, when it’s been close to 70 degrees F (around 20C), warm enough to leave the doors open. Cherry and pear trees are in full bloom, and there are drifts of calla lilies* and daffodils on the side of the road. Spring has definitely begun to spring.
I went to pick up some work from my old friends at the jobette (they have had a difficult time successfully replacing me, so I have picked up some of my old duties on the side), and as I was heading back to my car, I heard a voice call out, “Is that my friend?” It was Monica, heading home from work with Stella’s son Joey sitting in the passenger seat, his distinctive and ever-comic ears streaming happily in the wind as they drove past.
On my way home, I stopped by Erin’s house to admire her plush new carpet and have a glass of wine (which I managed not to spill on the new carpet). It was great to catch up with her and her family. Her son is learning to play the piano, so he provided some music as well as making me an origami Yoda. He also gave me the mistletoe this past Christmas.
As I headed home, I thought of how lucky I am to live here, surrounded by friends and family and, well, love.
*For some reason, I associate calla lilies with funerals. Also carnations. Calla lilies grow like weeds here.
A YEAR AGO: Laying Megan and Rob’s sweet kitty Ramona to rest under the pet tree. She is resting in peace in very good company.
5 Responses to “Friends”
Storms are never fun to watch except to appreciate the force of Mother Nature of course, but when one lives in a glass house as you do it makes one so much more aware of what’s going on around you. Here in Ottawa we had a major snow storm which broke a one hundred year record for the most snow in one day, we received 24 inches in 16 hours, it took 6 hours to clean up the storm around my place after the storm, then it went back to minus 20’s and today we are expecting another small storm of 6 inches, think about it, no the season aint over by a long shot.
I have to disagree with Dad, there. I love watching/being in a storm; snow, rain, thunder…there’s always such nervous excitement. I’m not sure I could live where you live. With the ocean so close and the climate you get, I don’t think I’d ever make it to work. I’d be out with the camera all day.
My brother and sister LOVED the storm. When we were kids, they and our father used to count to see how far away the lightning and thunder were. Whereas I hid. Some things never change! I think they got my allowance of daringness as well as their own.
Don’t get me wrong guys, I’m the first to respect and honor Mother Nature and her storms, it’s the mess She can leave behind that scares and worries me, the storm itself can be a spectacle indeed.
For me, it’s both. The storms scare me, and I’m always worried about the power going out and trees falling into the house and/or the road. Not to mention flooding and mudslides.