ODE TO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

ODE TO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM It may seem odd, however, to think of just how dependent modern Americans have become, on products, which use electricity. That is, until one evening, after dark, when a severe thunderstorm not only dumps enough ran to flood low-lying area's, but, when the rain is accompanied by powerful streaks, of lightning. I, for one, do not know which I fear most. The brief burst, of light. A burst which, for just a second, turns night time into high noon, on a sun-lit day. That, or the few seconds later, when the thunder crashes, so loud, that it shakes homes with the sound of a hungry predator. It is just so amazing that, one moment, a person can be listening to their favorite tunes, on their play-list, or watching a wide variety, of video products, yet, with the FLASH, of a bolt, of lightening, Battery powered, transistor, radios, and outdated, battery-powered, "boom-boxes" become the best music available. Then, of course, there are those persons, who enjoy listening to audio books, which they have down-loaded to their computers. One moment, the listener is engrossed in finding out if a spirit is, truly, that of a loved one, then, with a flash, of lightning, the stereo, and computer, stop playback (just before the truth is revealled). Suddenly, the listener is left to read printed magazines, and hard cover books. All by battery powered (or kerosene) lanterns. All due to the savage power, of "Mother Nature". Yes, how quickly our lives can change, without electric current. In fact, the very same type of current which, in the shape of a lightning bolt, can KILL, or destroy, instead of providing pleasure. Yes, how our lives have become so dependent, on electricity. Everything from C.D. players, to DVD machines. Stereo F.M. receivers, to Digital television signal receivers. Add in alarm clocks, microwave ovens, electric can openers, light bulbs, air conditioners, and portable fans, And it is oh, so simple, for a brief burst, of electricity to return a city, from twenty-first century high-tech, to seventeenth century candles, and paperback reading. It is at times, such as these, that I realize that a foreign power would not need a nuclear attack, to bring the United States to its "knee's". No, all that a foreign power would need to do was use a remote device, to shut down the power-grid, and the United States is returned to colonial times. All of the M.R.I.'s, ex-rays, and tests, whose names I wont pretend that I can pronounce, all useless, without electricity. And what of the American automobile? A device, whose systems, nowadays, run, almost completely, on electricity. Gone are the days, of carbureters, spark plugs (and wires), as well as simple gasoline. Nowadays, automotive design is so "addicted", to high tech micro-chips, that even ignitions do not turn over, without micro-chip permission. As for mobile (cell) phones. It would take just ONE, electrical, storm, to shut down an entire city/county. Add in the fact that pay telephones no longer exist, and it would be so very easy to cripple the nations economy, just with a few lightning bolts. My neighbors and I have sat back, and watched as just two, or three, lightning bolts, took out up to ten, city, blocks, of the power grid, leaving residents without light, heat, air conditioning, or entertainment. With our lives so dependent, nowadays, on this substance, called electricity, I have to wonder why cities dont move the power lines underground, to protect transformers from lightning strikes, as well as moving sub-stations underground, to protect against drunk drivers. In my town, there have been no less than three times when drunk drivers have driven through electric sub-stations, taking down several blocks, of the power grid, until electricity can be re-routed. How dependent we have become on this wonderous, yet deadly, substance, called electricity. A substance which can either keep a nations citizens in contact, or which can kill, faster than any sniper. How dependent we have become, on this substance, and how easily it can cripple our lives. Thanks to a severe thunderstorm, I have learned, first hand, what it is like, when electricity stops flowing. How life stops. How we find ourselves surrounded, by SILENCE. Maybe, we have satellite radio, however, this leaves the question: In colonial times, storms did not phase life, since families used hand-cranked phonographs, and kerosene lamps, as well as paper-back novels, to ride out storms. Are we really better off? This is my ode, to a severe thunderstorm (and the lessons such weather reminds us of)