Summer's coming to an end

The lazy days of summer are coming to an end. Not that I've been lazy, mind you.  Just had a different focus for the past few weeks.  Spent several days trying to watch movies on the TV. Invariably, fell asleep from the strain of trying to hold my head tilted just so to keep my glasses perched on the end of my nose. This awkward position enabled me to see the screen for a few minutes, then I'd wake up in time to put the next movie on.  Four days of this constantly adjusting either my head or my glasses gave me another ache to consider.  My neck and shoulders were the cause of a tension headache bordering on a migraine.  When my niece suggested that I go to her house, I didn't hesitate. Her living room is arranged so that I could lay on the couch in a position to see the screen without straining.  Thankful for doctors, antibiotics and family for the support the past few weeks.

The doc told me she was seeing a lot of infections more common to "Indian summer" which left me in a little bit of confusion.  Then, she corrected herself just as I figured out she meant "Dog Days" which led to me explaining what "Indian summer" was while reassuring her I wasn't offended.  Political correctness...hmm.  There have been major storms since July 4th in northeastern MN and Duluth was flooded. I live a hundred miles from there and we didn't get the amount of rain they got.  There were two windstorms which explains why I got hit with an infection.  All those spores being unearthed and then blown around.  Think that'll teach me to hop around on the edge of a tornado trying to get a picture of the trees bent half over without being broken?

without filtering

with filtering

All I was trying to do was get a picture of the kind of storms I remembered being in when I was a child.  All I succeeded in was getting myself sick and getting my son worried when he saw the pics I posted which weren't even close to what I was trying to capture.  The treetops were much closer to the ground.  A lot of the dead trees had snapped.  Fortunately, my brother had cut down the ones around our house, so we only had twigs and short sticks in our yard when the storm was over.

For the next couple weeks, crews were around cutting down dead trees, cutting up the trees that were already down and clearing up deadfall. We didn't get a flood exactly, as the water quickly washed down and went where ever the drains go. Any mud left dried up exactly where it lay and spores were free to blow where they may.  Some people catch every little thing, some don't and some, like me, catch a doozy every so often.

Then, when almost done recuperating from this little incident, I had my nose in a book while walking down to the gov't center.  "Drive the car" was in my mind twice but noooo....Hah, my father's voice immediately popped into my head "Get your nose out of that book" but of course, it was too late.  I had already mis-stepped, flung myself off the foot that was twisting under me and landed on the pavement.  I dreaded to look at my knees, my hands and my foot.  Course the loud snap similar to cracking your knuckles didn't do anything to alleviate my dread.

Upon close examination of the affected areas and no pain, I got up,dusted myself off and continued on my journey to the center. Now, anyone knows that sometimes, the pain doesn't hit because the area has been temporarily pain deadened.  I got a ride home as my ankle was swelling along with pain awakening in my leg.  Got home and again laid on the couch watching TV for the rest of the day.  Got the ankle and foot xrayed the next day just to make sure.  Since I already had painkillers from the first incident, I didn't have to get any more, just ice packs for one and heat packs for the other.

Naturally, our annual percap is being distributed and now, I will need to use extra care and caution when traveling about spending this yearly amount.  Well, one good thing, I may use a little more care with the expensive electronic reader because it's more apt to be broken than a paperback or hardcover. Cause my father's voice is easily ignored when there's an exciting part in the book.

Thunderstorms

It's great to hear the thunder. It's still off in the distance. I am glad for the rain. It's been dry here. Yesterday, went for a walk with my sisters. Could have used some of the cool then. After the walk, I was sitting on the porch having my daily "habit that most of the world thinks I should quit" and the wind had changed from south to north. Yay. I hoped most of the lightening would happen while I was sleeping.

I like to listen to thunder. Just not for hours upon hours. That's when I think the Spirits might be getting angry because no one is listening to them. I like to watch the lightening, from a distance. Up close is very heart pounding sort of stuff. I don't want the Spirits to think I am defying them. No, no, no. It's the first displays that I have the greatest appreciation for.

Gentle rain is fine for a day or so. The sound of the rain is peaceful and I can go to sleep listening to that sound. Not Thunderstorms. They make me want to do something. Problem is I don't always know what.

The restless nature of storms highlight my restless nature. That may be why I want to have a blanket handy. Hiding from the storm, from the call of the Thunder Spirit because I'm not doing what I need to be doing. Dreading the lightening because I don't want the stark view of my environment.

Storms don't happen very often. A good thing from my point of view. Looking for the imbalance in myself is scary. Figuring out who, what, where, when and why is not an easy thing. When I do those things, and get a little more in balance, the next storm isn't as scary. In fact, the next few are ones I revel in. I can sit and watch through most of the storm. Sleep sometimes needs to be attended to but I don't huddle under the blankets trying to will myself to sleep.

Sometimes, I have to drive through a storm. Then, it's concentrate, focus, find the right speed to navigate the wet roads. Try to decide if I should slow down, speed up, stop altogether. Try to loosen my grip on the wheel so I can feel the slight changes in the tires. Try to gauge if the wind is changing direction. Sometimes, lightening flashes interfere with my vision. Other times, they startle me and I just know the thunder is going to crash and rattle my eardrums.

When I arrive at my destination, it's great to know I did it. At those times, I feel a greater kinship with the Thunder Spirits. Yes! It's great to be alive. It's great to hear the thunder.