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March
24, 2001: Juicy Fireworks Display; Back Patio Intercept I awaken at 4:50 AM just as the show is about to begin. A very occasional flash of lightning rings out in the sky, followed by the slightest whisper of thunder. Before long, more frequent flashes emanate, still followed by vague whispers, like that of distant fireworks. Within 10
more minutes, the first fiery bolts of cloud to ground lightning leap through
the northern sky, and within 5 more minutes, all blossoms into continuous dance
of cloud- to- ground branches. My
heart leaps in silent delight as birds sing in the pre-dawn sky and fiery
ribbons of platinum tumble again and again to my north, sometimes leaving their
imprints to linger in my eyes as thunder responds. The
thunder still sounds strange, brief and muffled like distant fireworks. Deeply I
inhale air so sweet and fresh from moistness and scents of early Spring buds and
unfolding leaves. For
the next 45 minutes, I savor a profound display of lightning that leaps across
the entire northern sky, very slowly coming closer and closer. Thick
ribbons of liquid platinum fire drop and pulse again and again before me,
slithering and snapping about, disappearing into increasingly loud claps of
thunder that echo across nearby buildings and fade into brief stillness of night
swiftly punctuated by the next flicker of lightning discharge. Huge
drops of rain begin to fall and add to the symphony.
Frequently, two or more lightning bolts drop at the same time or within
split seconds of each other. I even
see a couple green discharges and a gold one. Eventually
the lightning visits my immediate neighborhood, as the entire night turns as
bright as day, sometimes revealing dazzling ribbons of fire immediately followed
by earthshaking explosions. About
a dozen bolts land within a couple blocks of my apartment, providing me with
many gasps of awe and thrill. The best lightning is over me and northward. The heaviest rain comes after the most powerful lightning has faded or passed eastward. Still, thunderstorm atmospheres continue into dawn and beyond as occasional flickers of vivid pink and even lilac colored lightning echo forth, sometimes revealing spectacular tentacles of pink fire across the sky, and once hitting earth about a block away from my window. |
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