It is a very rare occurrence, here in Northern California, to experience a lightning and thunder storm. Last night we were blessed with a two hour show plus an encore presentation early this morning. While lying in bed waiting for the kiddos to wake and come snuggle for cover, I found myself counting... One one thousand, Two one thousand, Three one thousand and so on, between each beautiful lighting bolt and crash of the corresponding thunder roll. I then, with the utmost confidence in my scientific research, reported to my husband how far away the storm really was. This took me back to my wonderful memories of spending my summers in New England. More times than not, we had to disembark our water play to run for cover and wait out the mid-afternoon spontaneous storm. I loved being at my grandparents' home with wonderful screened-in porch. I would sit with my grandmother, Gamee, sweat would be running down our faces from the instant humidity, while playing Scrabble and we would count the seconds within the storm.The storm would last for about an hour and then the sun would shine and we would go back to the outdoor activity of the day.
Last night's storm took me down my memory lane and my wonderful reflections of my summers on the Other Coast. I would give anything to get to experience just one more summer in Larchmont, Guilford, Carmel (pronounced like the candy treat, not the posh CA seaside town), Marblehead, and NYC. I want to go back and have Gamee show me again (for the 100th time) how to make a bed with hospital corners. Swim in Long Island Sound, wake up in the upstairs quarters of the Corinthian Yacht club, spend a week at the quirky but delightful Allen A Resort in Wolfboro, NH. Spend endless days in Carmel with nothing on the day's agenda but tennis and relaxing. How will I ever be able to create such timeless memories for my children? This world is such a different place these days and the West Coast is just not the same as the East Coast.
