Storm clouds

I’m afraid my outer banks vacation came to something of an abrupt end.  With forecasters threatening severe weather that had produced a historic number of tornadoes in Alabama, I decided to try to get out ahead of the storms.  I was already planning on leaving Thursday, but I decided not to dally at all on the way out. The wind was already too brisk for a beach walk in the morning so it was easy to pack up and head out by 9 am.

I decided to brave the Chesapeake Bay Bridge rather than drive inland through Richmond, and Washington, and Baltimore… I figured the only thing worse than driving thought one of those metro areas in rush hour was driving through one in rush hour and torrential rain. 

Good choice!  My ride home was pleasant with not a drop of rain or a hint of traffic – and with only minor panic on the bridge.  Going over that 20-mile marvel of technology, I did NOT take in what are undoubtedly lovely views of the bay, but instead focused all my attention on the road ahead and steady two hands CLENCHED on the wheel of the car. My stomach turned over and my body went completely cold the minute I embarked over the water. But fierce concentration and many prayers got me to the other side.

Then it was nothing but farmland and small towns through the eastern shore of Virginia, up through Maryland and into southern Delaware.  Driving a car on the open road can make you feel pretty much like you own the world – especially if you’re playing great music and the sun is shining.  When storm clouds gather, though, you tend to notice the lonely farm homestead on the edge of the field with the vast expanse of roiling cloud cover that makes you feel vulnerable and small.  I was glad that the clouds never actually looked dangerous, even though I was acutely aware of the possibilities of rain and wind and hail and tornado.

It was kind-of a fitting end to the quiet part of my vacation… a reminder that storm clouds gather and are soon gone. Some storms, of course, are completely devastating, and I pray for those who have not been quite so lucky over the last few days. Here at home, the sun is out today; the breeze is beautiful, my azaleas are in bloom, and I have much still to do.

This is the life…