Lee and I were sitting on our sofa, watching a movie and eating popcorn, and trying to ignore the thunderstorm outside. There had been flashes of lightning all night, but suddenly it seemed like the lightning was in our living room. The flash was so intense, the noise was immediate and jarring. I flung the popcorn that was halfway to my mouth across the room.
After assuring myself our house hadn’t been hit, I stepped onto my porch. Car alarms were blaring, and other doors began opening and porch lights flickered on. Neighbors yelled to each other, checking that everyone was okay. It’s kind of nice to have a neighborhood where people do that.
The lightning is still flashing, and I’m still nervous, but the storm doesn’t seem as close. I’m still keeping my flashlight handy.