When Lightning Strikes

Last night, I had the scare of my life as lightning struck directly outside of my bedroom window. We'd had a few rumbles of thunder, but they were far away, and after a brief shower all was quiet. Hubby had just stepped outside to check something and was downstairs locking the front door. I was in bed, reading. Everything happened at once - there was a sizzle and crackle, like in the old Frankenstein movies when the electricity moves between the gizmos in the lab, a bright flash, and the loudest bang I've ever heard.  I don't know if it actually struck the ground, a tree or what.  Luckily for us we were all okay.

Pierre the cat proved that his training works.  Anytime there is something scary in the house, such as a stranger, a big noise, or a storm, he runs for the basement. Hubby also has him trained to return to us with a certain tune he whistles.  We whistled for him and there was his little furry kitty face, peeking around the basement door.  In the event of a big storm, he's the smartest one of all of us and takes shelter right away in the basement.

Shadow the German Shepherd dog is not afraid of thunderstorms, but that bang was too much for her, so she ran into the bathroom where I found her curled up between the sink and the tub. She looked at me with accusing eyes as if to say, "Make that loud noise go away!"

It was the only time all evening that we heard such a loud bang.  I was more frightened by the fact that we could have been struck.  Each of us had stepped outside during the thunderstorm to grab something the wind was carrying away, or just to check something.  The thunder minutes before had been a low rumble, the kind that sounds like it's miles away. Then suddenly - bang. It was right there.

Here's the eerie coincidence. Now, it's a common phrase to describe a once in a lifetime event as a 'lightning strike.'  I was on the phone with a friend yesterday.  He was upset because he is getting audited, which is very stressful indeed.  I asked him if he had made a mistake in his taxes and he said, "No, not that I know of. My attorney keeps saying it's like lightning striking - a once in a lifetime thing, and very unusual to get chosen for an audit."

That phrase had been going through my mind all day yesterday.  Like lightning striking.

Now I REALLY know what that phrase means!

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