The Weather

There are certain small joys in life that come from living closer to nature. One of those things that I have come to embrace is the feeling of weather. In all my travels I haven't met a one that doesn't enjoy discussing the peculiarities of the weather. What happened yesterday or yesteryear, how much rain or how little rain has been or would to be. The heat, the cold, the dryness or humidity.

But we've distanced ourselves from actually experiencing the weather we love to discuss. We're removed from the weather inside our climate controlled and weatherproofed houses and cars. There is nary a moment when the sound, wind, or moisture punctures this shell and reaches our senses. Obviously this is a good thing and a hallmark of our society. It's not pleasant to be in a tent during a Kansas thunderstorm--its actually terrifying. But there is something primal and exhilarating about being in the thick of it.

Before the thunderstorm last night, the sultry air was thick and oppressive. The light wind served only to wash the hot, humid air over us without providing any respite from the heat. All was quiet as the storm clouds silently slipped in front of the dipping sun. All went steel grey and blue as the sun was obscured behind the thunderhead. As the sun dipped lower, it passed under the storm clouds and lit the sky ablaze with the green-golden colors of tornadoes. Traveling below the horizon, the sliver of clear sky turned to the deep orange of dying embers in a fire. All the while, the storm clouds loomed ever greater yet remained silent sentinels, flickering with the electric warning of the coming storm.

The air became more stifling and the wind died to nothing up to the the moment that the storm squall hit. A noticeable chill ran through the air as the wind shifted 180 degrees, now coming out of the North and started whipping up the surf. Spray off the white capped waves reached us on the dock as the wind increased to 40 and 50 mile per hour gusts. The thunder and rain followed shortly after, causing us to make a hasty retreat into our stone and wood cocoon.

I think that we all have some innate yearning for the outdoors. Sometimes it seems uncomfortable making the transition from urban environment to the harsher and more raw natural environment. After a time though, I have come to wish that I could spend ever more of my time outdoors. Experiencing nature first hand, rather than vicariously through weather forecasters and documentaries of the natural world.