Summer Storm by Plum Dumpling Designs
It's Only Words 2 Templates by Band Geek Designs

I had gone to Minnesota for Grandma's funeral. Mom and Dad had flown in from California, of course. I was so glad to see them, even though it was for such a sad occasion. We were staying at the Burton's house, and it was dinnertime. We had just finished eating dinner out on the glass-enclosed porch and we could see the dark clouds coming in fast. And with the clouds came the rain, and did it pour! It was a typical Midwestern mid-summer thunderstorm. Pretty soon Dad left the room, and I soon followed him. I found him standing outside on the front stoop, watching the storm. He had the most peaceful look on his face. I asked him why he was out there, other than to get away by himself. He told me that the one thing he missed about living in California was the thunderstorms. So here he was, right smack dab in the middle of a big one, standing outside under cover watching the elements give it their best shot. We stayed out there together for a long time, just watching, listening.

I had never known that about Dad until that day, that living in Sunny Southern California had taken him away from his beloved thunderstorms. It also took him away from the snow, which was a good thing. But he missed his storms. So now whenever I hear a storm coming, I always think of that time with Dad, and I remember just how much I miss him.