Count Your Blessings

GO-0613By Georgia Osten
I believe we have the most severe lightning and thunderstorms here at the beach than anywhere I’ve ever lived. I remember visiting my mother and grandmother back in the 60’s, they lived on Redfish off Crystal Beach Road. It was in the Fall, sitting outside reading a book when all of a sudden, this storm came out of nowhere. Scrambling up the stairs as fast as I could go, tripping and landing on my shins on the steps. I was so scared I could hardly feel the pain.

Then, I guess it was about 3 weeks ago on a Sunday, we were both sitting in our office on the computers, when the rain started, then the thunder, then the loudest crack of lightning I’ve ever heard! It was like it hit right smack dab in the middle of the living room, right in front of the TV. I just knew the house was on fire. We noticed a terrible smell like burned electric wires in one of the back bedrooms. Of course, the electricity immediately went out … and stayed out for 4 hours. Waiting for the generator to come on, like it should when we lose power, and it and never did. The generator is run by propane, it’s the whole point of having one.

It was a cool enough day, so I found a book and found a couch as I whiled away the hours. When the electricity finally came back on, we proceeded to wander around the house to see if everything would start up again. Thank goodness the A/C came back on and the refrigerator. NOT the TV, not the generator, ALL the lights on the ceiling fans were blown, but the fans still worked. A few days later, the oven panel went out on the stove, so no oven.

We’ve since had most everything fixed, still waiting on parts for the generator. About a week after the storm, my husband found exactly where the lightning struck. A chunk of concrete was knocked from the slab out into the yard. The strike was less than a foot from the propane tank! Oh Lordy! I see lightning rods being installed in our near future.
[6-12-2017]

GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you. Email: [email protected]

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2 Responses to “Count Your Blessings”

  1. AnnieO says:

    OMG, how scary. I don’t want to think about what could have happened. Stuff can be fixed and/or replaced, but you two can not!!! <3

  2. Cindy Srader says:

    Oh My Goodness. Thankful that you are all safe. What a scary thing to happen. I don’t have propane, but I can imagine the horror it it was hit. ❤️

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