Chaparral Storm

Posted on November 21, 2004 in Weather

Lightning lit the room at about three a.m. Thunder jumped into bed with us. Car alarms gasped and choked out their alerts at the shock. Seconds later, the bead curtain of rain advanced onto our street. A long interval of the tapping then a new flash and more of the invisible bear, growling. This went on for about half an hour. Lynn and I spoke just once. “Are you awake?” “Yes.” I sat up. Fiona sat erect in the hallway, watching the front door. I lay back.

When the storm ceased, wind from the mountain splashed over our sandstone dome. We would not know silence for the rest of the night.