Last night a loud, sizzling lightening bolt the size of Texas, struck our home taking out our air conditioner for awhile. This occurred as Foxy and I walked into the lanai and ran for the back door. We had been on Foxy's nightly walk, around 9 p.m., while she did her business, I took photos of the impending storm. One storm had already passed and another was on the way. I had forgotten Southern Florida is the lightening capital of the world, so I was fiddling around trying to capture some of the great lightening scenes playing out in the sky. A gigantic white light struck the air conditioner, the sound was deafening. I nearly swallowed my tongue!! Foxy and I were running over each other trying to get in the back door. We made it but both of us wanted to jump in Lisa's lap. Note to self...' Lightning capitol of the world is a fact I will not forget again...ever!! Nor will I try and sit in Lisa's lap'...just kidding:)
Since we live about six miles from the ocean, we hear thunder off and on all day as storms pass the coast and hit other areas. We can hear thunder from fifty miles away. It may be possible to do the same thing back home...I don't know... it seems different here...louder and more constant. I love it...usually. This was the conclusion of chaos for the day. However...
My panic attack occurred before 9 a.m. It was intensely hot, deadly still, causing sweat to bead up on people's bodies running in rivets of salty water down their backs and faces, after five minutes outside. Everyone was waiting for the storms to find us; hoping the storm would cool the atmosphere down to bearable.
Lisa and Lisle's neighbors do not speak English. However, they are very good people, neighbors, providing the best protection service in the neighbor hood. They have an enormous Rottweiler.
The entire neighbor hood calls him Blitz, we have no clue what his Spanish name is but Blitz works for them. Me??? I am never speaking to the dog AGAIN...I do not care if his is name is 'Vicky, Raoul or Demon' and he wears a gold crown... we are done...finished...ca put!! He scares the crap our of me!!
Lisle was helping the neighbors with the roofing job. They were trying to finish before the next storm hit. The oppressive heat was about to make Lisle sick. I remembered I had two 'special' towels that are supposed to make the body temperature lower. Heavy on the word 'supposed'. They do help that is for sure. I ran out the back door with the towels and yelled for Lisle. Out comes Blitz... the biggest dog I have ever seen, from out of nowhere, straight to the fence and barking his ass off at me. I am spellbound.
I was leaning on the fence when he charged, reared up and looked me in the eye. Barking, slobbering and mad as hell. I don't know what I did because I was scared beyond words. He would have had no trouble jumping the fence and truthfully I think it crossed his mind. The lady of the house, all five feet of her, came running out talking Spanish to 'Blitz' and trying to save my scared yazoo! I tried to hand her the towels and 'Blitz' lunged again. Finally, I threw the towels over the fence and ran for the house. I have never, ever once in my life been afraid of a dog. Not once, but I was yesterday...and I still am today and will be tomorrow.
As the afternoon progressed, my panic attack had subsided, life as I know it returned to 'normal'. Lisa and I went for her first ride to pick up some medicine she needed. She misses driving. I know the feeling. It is still too early for her to drive. It felt good to get out of the house for a little while. The whole time I was driving, I was mentally frantic. I was so worried about the fact that I was driving my daughter, who has just had brain surgery, on an interstate where there were so many idiots driving 80 miles an hour...going to Walmart!! Heaven forbid they get there late.
I was wishing she had sat in the back seat in case we had a car wreck and the air bags had to be inflated. Years ago I was in a head on collision when the air bags hit my face I thought my nose had been broken. It saved my life and for that I am thankful however, Lisa has 30 staples at her scalp...imagine how that would have felt?? Even though Lisa is 43, I still worry about her, especially now. We did have a good time together. We made it home safely. I had worried for nothing...I can live with that.
Today is Sunday and I am ready for a mellow day. I see no eminent problems in the future. However, sooner or later I will have to get out of bed and then it is on once again:)
That must have been a scary sight! How are you guys coping? I hope that aside from recovering from that frightening episode. So is your unit still working, or did you have to look for a replacement after the lightning hit it?
ReplyDeleteLashon Cheatham @ All About Air