Monday, September 19, 2011

Thunder Booms

A thunderstorm rolled in again this afternoon. Since that horse of mine was struck a month ago, I am feeling cautious. The lightning dropped all around us, and I made my riders walk their horses across the flats, though we were just a minute from the barn. When we got home, Scotch and I sat in the window and watched the lightning fall. It struck a tree on the riverbank right across the road from the window. The tree was way down in the river bottom-- it was not a high point at all! It was a profound, humbling sight. I do love living in a place where the earth reminds you that she will kill you, should you be foolish enough to ignore her. It's not personal, but you'd best watch your step...

One of the guides was driving home from Steamboat on the jeep trail some days ago when lightning struck the road in front of his truck. It rippled across the wet mud and under his vehicle. The steering went solid in his hands, and he pressed on the brake with both feet. His ears were ringing and dull all at once from the boom! of the strike, and he couldn't tell if the engine was still running. He clicked the key on and off-- the truck did nothing. He gathered his wits and caught his breath. Some minutes later, as the storm rolled off over the canyon, he turned the key on the truck again. It started right up, and off he drove!

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