Valerie's Belfair WA Real Estate Blog

We are very impressionable people - and it is at times hard to not pass our fears and worries along to our children or others. Mostly our children...

It's thundering and lightening today here in Allyn, WA.  Unusual for us. Our summers generally bring comfortable heat with marine breezes and low humidity (yes believe it or not fairly low humidity.I know what you're thinking we're the rain capital of the world). 

 I am from the East Coast - Portsmouth, NH to be exact and there we were prone to drenching humidity along with intense heat with many, many thunder and lightning storms. I have to say though, I will probably NEVER get used to thunder and lightning storms although I am better with them now....

Which brings me to my point, as I am sitting here listening to the thunder in the background and glimpsing the flicker of the lightning out of the corner of my eye.  I find myself counting....(one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.....) counting - why??? Because Mom said if you count between the lightning and when you hear the noise of the thunder, it will tell you how far away it is.  Is it true? I don't know but here's the other impressions Mom made on me regarding thunder and lightning storms...  (And oh yes my husband and kids laughs at me each and every time)...

Don't go outside -ok I can agree with this one.

Stay away from the windows. Mom said it could strike me through the window!

Don't use or be near any water - like wash the dishes or take a bath/shower. Water attracts lightning mom said!

Stay off the telephone- (I wonder if this applies to cell phones?) Unplug your TV and your electrical equipment. My sister claims that she was shocked during a lighting storm while she was on the phone - (ok so she has me convinced- I mean my sister wouldn't lie to me would she??? She would never play off my fears -right?)

Don't go out in the garage (concrete floor-you know mom said attracts lighting) or outside without rubber soled shoes... (yeah I was running around in a dress with sneakers on most of the time)...  Mom said if I step on the concrete with barefeet it might find me and get me!

Stay away from electrical outlets (this one kills me because  I can remember sitting in the hallway as a kid with my brothers and sisters during these storms because there are no windows, no outlets, no water nearby...how could I go wrong cuz Mom said you know.....) I wouldn't unplug anything either and made my brother and sisters do it because I was afraid I'd get "zapped" when I pulled the plug.

Safest place to be is your car. I spent many many many nights (my husband was in the service and away a lot) driving around or driving to mom's because the storms would scare me. I would grab up the kids throw them in the car and drive around until the storm passed or make the 3 hour drive to mom and dads. Funny how I ran to the one person who gave me the fear (hmmmm a ploy by my mom to keep in touch and see the grandkids??...).

So Sitting here watching and hearing the sounds - I reminisce about what Mom said and wonder - wonder how much and know how impressionable I was to what she said... and how HER fearof thunder and lightning was embedded in me! 

See mom I do listen asI tie my sneakers, sitting here in the dark hallway - the only light from the occasional lightning and my computer screen. My computer's not plugged in so that doesn't count - right??? Maybe not  but MOM SAID.......! Orrrrrrr maybe she's right and I should still shut my computer down?????  

My kids will tease my intense fear but yet THEY JUMP OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS AND just about into my lap  as the Loud CLAP and BOOM descends!    Oh Yeah- but MOM SAID.............!!!!!!     (a sly smile across my face as I pat their backs and assure them "there,there my children- you're safe with me.WHEREVER did you get this fear...?").