Friday, August 15, 2008.  Dottie phoned this evening and said we must be in for some bad weather because there is lightning everywhere. I went out to look. It was heat lightning, and it was putting on a show better than any fireworks display.

I drove a couple of miles to a knob looking over the western sky. Thunderheads were massed on the horizon. Lightning was sparking and zipping between these thunderheads. No sounds of thunder, just that silent light show. One of the columns of clouds was black, backlit with red light. Lightning would crackle through and across this rampart of thunderheads, with purplish and greenish glows.

Only at the hottest time of year, in deepest summer, do you see heat lightning, but this was the most spectacular I've ever seen. I was parked along someone's fenceline with the car windows down. Night crickets and cicadas sang in the grass. The night was breathless--not a leaf moved. I ooh-ed and aah-ed at the magnificent sight until someone drove slowly by--probably wondering what I was doing there.

I went home and phoned Dottie and said it's not gonna rain, it's just heat lightning. "Just."  Nature should've charged admission for that show.  susil

Comments:

Adding on -- oh, Sue, to be 12 with current knowledge and get the rest of it right this time. And start the athletics at that age instead of late the way I did.

Now that's living life. What a lovely description. I feel like I was there too.

comment by shesaidwhat on Aug 19, 2008 2:43 PM ()

Why thank you she!

reply by susil on Aug 20, 2008 1:40 PM ()

My first experience with heat lightning was at summer camp when I was 12 or so. It was remarkable. Haven't seen it much lately. Your descriptive powers are great. I want to be 12 again.

comment by tealstar on Aug 19, 2008 6:05 AM ()

Hi teal; somehow last year and the year before I missed out on
the heat lightning, and would've this year if Dottie hadn't phoned.
It is always a remarkable sight; I am humbled by the power of
natural occurrences like that. (PS you're the only person I know
who'd want to be 12 again!)

reply by susil on Aug 20, 2008 1:37 PM ()

What marvelous descriptive language. It was almost as if I were there with you watching it.

comment by redimpala on Aug 17, 2008 9:20 AM ()

Hey impala, thanks for stopping by!

reply by susil on Aug 18, 2008 8:24 PM ()

Wow! What a show!! You described it beautifully, too. How cool was that!!?!

comment by marta on Aug 17, 2008 8:37 AM ()

Thanks, marta. And I'm wondering how many other awesome
things I've missed by not going outside at night more
often to have a look at the sky?

reply by susil on Aug 17, 2008 9:06 AM ()

It sounds beautiful, impressive.

comment by bumpedoff on Aug 17, 2008 8:14 AM ()

Hi bumped; yes it was both--wish you could've seen that.

reply by susil on Aug 17, 2008 9:01 AM ()