Storm's A-Brewin'

So what is it about storms that gets people so rattled? I just don't quite understand it ... it's as if generations of us have been programmed to fear storms. I know storms can be dangerous but so is almost everything we do these days. When people hear that a storm is coming, they send out alerts to everyone like this is the one that's gonna wipe us all away. Well, I for one thinks it's high time we stopped that mess. Am i saying to not be cautious? No, but I am saying let's just ride these storms out. If you learn to enjoy the moment, it just may not be that bad. And here's how I do it:

Storms actually remind me of my childhood - it's one of those triggers like the music of an ice cream truck that sends my mind whirling back into the past. There's nothing quite like it because I get a flood of great memories and feelings that are there with me throughout the storm.  Every rumble of thunder and shatter of lightning aids in this moment of reminiscence. I think of all the nights when my aunt would call us all away from the TV, the phone, the randomness of solitude that we had escaped into. She would call us all into the living room to ride out the storm. The doors would be open (screen doors locked of course) so we would get the breeze in the house. All of those electronics would be off and we were there together, all in one space. These were some of the best times of my childhood because we'd talk, sing, and play games as a big family. This would go on for however long. Sometimes the storm would last so long that the adults would get tired of the noise and there would always be one last game ... the Silent Game. LOL! That was pretty much our cue to go on ahead and take a nap wherever you are - on the floor, on the couch, in some one's lap. I won most times because (being the eldest) I knew this secret and would immediately proceed to close my eyes and just take in the natural sounds and smells of the storm. It was sssooo relaxing! Oh the memories!

Now you may say that sounds so old-fashion with the whole turn off all electronics. Of course, we all now nowadays that those things aren't as dangerous as us Southerners used to (and sometimes still) make them out to be. BUT it's not about that; it's about the family time produced from such a thing. I can tell you one thing, I plan to do the same with my family. And no I don't plan on just doing family time during the storms ... that's not how I was raised. I am just saying instead of allowing my children to fear the storm, I plan to create a calm & relaxing atmosphere so that they also grow up with those memories of when the storm's a-brewin'.