taken from our living room window
Practically every day for the past couple of weeks, the stifling summer heat has been interrupted by a more-than-refreshing late afternoon shower. The day usually begins as it normally does – bright, sunny and intense, with, of course, extreme humidity. At times it feels unbearable, especially in a country that likes to limit its use of air conditioning. A quick five minute walk outdoors typically results in clothes that are dripping wet.
Just when I think I can’t tolerate it any more, the skies grow dark and ominous while the smell of ozone wafts through the air. From the distance, a large crack of thunder can be heard, followed by crooked bolts of pink lightning. And then the heavens open up for a brief 10-15 minutes providing a bit of gratifying relief from the sweltering heat. These thunderstorms remind me of Texas summers (except without the tornado warnings), and are a welcome, and unexpected, connection to home.