FIRST BOW While we were having our evening meal, we were entertained by an electrical storm trying to form itself off to the west.
It was not a severe storm for the spring time of the year. It had started with the appearance of a long, gray, forbidding-looking gray cloud stretched out from what seemed to be the entire length of the Appalachian mountain range which formed a very real wall prevented the eastward passage of storms to the East.
Since they were anticipated and expected to start, showers arrived in the Valley almost without being noticed. Sudden hurried winds, however, scudded quickly through and thereby called some attention to the actual arrival of the storm. Large raindrops fell, lightening flashed, stabbed and shattering strands of thunder rolled and rumbled over the Valley's undulations. The proclamation of it presence roared and rolled across the Valley from the northwest. The rain was not too heavy, but we could see the floods spattering on the boards of the deck just outside the great, glass window-door
The storm had competition that particular night, because that was the evening champion trivia-quizzer Ken Jennings returned to “Jeopardy” in the first of a three-part, two million dollar run off. The storm just had to wait until we found out how Jennings fared in this long-awaited competition. We were pleased that he did well and he “will, be back tomorrow “
One of our four daughters, Babara, took one of her grandchildren who, then, is on of our great-grands – Dakota Fulk – to the front porch to see the rainbow.
Little Dakota, barely learning to talk, had not the slightest idea, of what a rainbow might be... but off they went.
The storm spent itself quickly. Bright stabs of sunlight came washing over the Valley from due west and a rainbow was a sure thing . I watched Ken Jennings finish up and, while standing near the door saw, to the south, a splendid rainbow. I issued a loud call and they came running.
Do you remember your first rainbow? The little boy Dakota didn't know where to look for that sort of thing. He quickly scanned the lawn area, and when he looked up there could be no doubt but that he had discovered what a rainbow should be .. all the world's natural colors on display!.
One of us oldsters – probably me and my big mouth - mentioned that the rainbow would go away... die... fade into nothingness. Dakota protested with “No!“ but , even rainbows, he agreed need rest and sleep. In the final moment he seriously bid the rainbow a “Goodnight” and a “Good-Bye”'.
I wondered what the small boy was thinking. Do you remember how nice it was talking to your first rainbow?
A.L.M. May 23, 2005 [c970wds]
