
Okay, so I didn't even know it was raining. I knew a cold front was coming through to take the temps down to the mid 90's (believe me, that feels cool when the temps have been 105 for a couple of weeks). There I am, typing away at my computer. Had just gotten off the phone with Sister Carole. More on that later.
So I'm typing away and suddenly the electricity goes out. Then comes back on. Computer dies and re-whirrs. I check the clock, it is after going-home time so I grab my bag and turn off the lamp. Didn't need to turn the other lamp off because guess what, the electricity goes out again. THen comes right back on. Decide immediately that I will take the stairs instead of the elevator down to the parking lot. Good thinking, because as I hit flight #1 of the stairs, the electricity goes out again. Then comes right back on. Then I hear the alarm bell going off in an elevator. Yay me, good decision.
Carry on down to the doors leading to the parking lot. Tell the security guard to send someone to the elevator. There is a gaggle of people watching the rain. More accurately, watching the storm. Because the rain is blowing sideways. The little crepe myrtle bush in the parking lot is SIDEWAYS. Buckets of rain. Loads and loads and loads of rain. Falling. Very. Fast.
Now, here's where I get irritated. The unwritten rule around here is that you get to park in your boss's spot if the boss is away from the building. But I had to go by the tag agent this morning and was late getting to the office. And the new media guy is parked in MY spot! My boss's spot more like it, but .... STILL!!!! Wars have been fought over just such things. This spot is much much closer to the building than my own spot. However, at 9:15 this morning, it wasn't a problem.
Fast forward to 4:45 p.m. and it IS a problem. Would have been a few feet from my car door and wouldn't have gotten very wet (maybe). So since I didn't want to brave the storm across a huge parking lot, I waited with the gaggle of people. Some on their cell phones tracking the weather. God bless technology!
So the wind dies down and the sky lightens up and now it is only raining. Not blowing. I venture forth (having rolled up my pants legs). Out the door. Open the umbrella. On the sidewalk leading to those industrial trash containers near the loading dock.
Then it happens. CRASHBOOM***FLASH**** A lightning strike with terrifying pop of thunder .... RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!~!!!! Holy smokes, at eye level was a bright white sparkler. I was on the sidewalk and it hit the grass in front of me a few yards.
Me turns around and heads back to the safety of the building and let the rain pass a bit too......
Work pal says, glad you made it back!
No more thunder, just more rain. It lightens up a bit more. I head to the car and drive home. Trees down. Stop lights out. Traffic. Make it through downtown and the major traffic areas. On the highway finally to get home. No rain here. What? No evidence of rain either.
It never ceases to amaze me .... more rain than can be handled in one area, and another area of town gets not a drop.
But I'm glad to not be dead from a lightning strike. Has anyone else had a close encounter?
And how do you like my little drawing above to depict my afternoon drive?













