Day 1497

Storms are not the friend of my Goldens. This morning, the thunder was gentle, but the wind was fierce. Sam seemed to take comfort in the ability to see what was going on. Calming down a bit, he watched the door like it was a television. If I had asked him, he would have probably asked me to “change the channel!”

There have been a few times in my life when the ability to view something disturbing has actually calmed my fears. A sound in the night, a noise behind a closed door or any other “surprise” that can be explained by a quick look is reassuring. It is when I cannot SEE something worrisome is when my imagination runs wild!

Way back in 1965, I was invited to go to the Terrace Theater to celebrate my friend’s birthday. On the way to Fridley, my friend Sue and I were in the back seat and saw the strangest sight. Part of a cloud dropped out of the sky…closely resembling a huge ice cream cone. I remember pointing it out to her mom who gave reassuring words while the car sped forward at lightning speed. Ushered into the theater (Mary Poppins was showing), the children were huddled together while the adults vanished for a few minutes. Later, I learned that they had stood in the entryway while a massive tornado had approached the theater and suddenly jumped over the parking lot, veering off towards Anoka!

The ride home was pretty scary. No cell phones… only WCCO radio reporting all about the widespread devastation! Our imaginations ran wild! Seeing my home standing as my folks opened their arms in greeting as we drove up the driveway will always be imbedded in my memory.

Seeing can bring relief. Knowing the reality of what you need to deal with can also bring a calm determination. It’s the “not knowing” that creates the worst-case scenario.

I am glad Sam found peace in seeing that the wind and rain were not in pursuit of him. Poor baby!