Yesterday, while eating lunch around 12:00, the squirrels were eating at the birdfeeder. One would jump up (all fours off the ground) and the other gazed around like hell was about to break loose. The soft rain began falling and I watched the squirrel on the ground take his questioned mark tail (curled over his back) and flatten it out like an umbrella where it covered his face. It was a remarkable site...until...

While putting our dirty dishes into the dishwasher...KABOOM...a thunderous roar echoed over our house like a thousand jets ready to take us into the wild blue yonder. The plastic container I was holding went flying across the kitchen, our little fuzzy faced dog let out a screech and my husband yelled, "Get away from the window." I obliged and the squirrels boogied from the birdfeeder.

KABOOM...crack, crack, crack, KABOOM sounded another thunderous roar and at that moment the transformer on the electric pole lit up like bottle rockets. Power OUT! Okay, now we knew why the squirrel was dancing. He knew what was coming. But, we didn't!

I called the power company at 12:15, at 2:00, at 4:00. In the meantime while waiting for the power to return...it was quiet. No computers, no fax machine, no caller ID's, only the stillness. Curling up in my recliner and my hubby in his, for the first time our mantle wall clock could be heard as the tick tock, tick tock, tick tock clicked off in melodious tones. I could hear the toenails of my dog on the tile floor and I listened to my heart beat. As the hours dwindled away and the storm calmed, birds chirping in the trees gave out songs of joy.

Then...KABOOM...it started all over again and CRACK went the lightening...and we could hear nothing but the roar. It lasted for awhile and then the rainbow glowed overhead. The power came on and the quite respite...ceased. Computers powered up, the fax machine began humming and the clock couldn't be heard.