L Things We Appreciate
According to sources (grin), my region is widely regarded
as the Lightning
capital of the world; not that we get
more strikes than anywhere else, but because they are more visible in the
desert. Considered by many to be a fantastically thrilling visual experience,
caution must be employed due to the unpredictability of strike locations. Lightning can destroy a tree without burning
it for the same reason the likelihood of surviving a lightning strike is much
higher if your clothes are wet. In the middle ages,
it was believed that Church Bells could ward off evil and that lightning storms were signs of the presence of such. Fortunately,
a correlation between storms and the high
rate of Bell Tower deaths was hence established, and the bell-ringing business stopped. Contrary to one tenacious
myth, lightning does indeed strike the same place twice – and even more often
than that – as evidenced by Mr.
Roy Sullivan.
These days, falling Leaves are synonymous with Leaf Blowers, and an
industrious kid has to practically beg for a
chance at the chore ;-) There aren’t many leaves in the desert, but if
there were…
Much as I love Legends and hauntings and ghost towns, if
given a choice I’d forego the hauntings and be a Leprechaun.
Good news! There is, in fact, a place to get delicious Lasagne
near the Library
of Congress! I can’t
believe how many books Thomas Jefferson had in his personal collection!
Any
thoughts? Can you add to the list of things we appreciate that begin with the
letter L?
Hi, diedre!
ReplyDeleteYou and I both live in The Lightning Capital of the World. It is designated as such in your region because of the high visibility of the strikes over the desert. In my area the notorious nickname is earned by the sheer number of strikes and the annual toll of casualties resulting from them. Thank you for directing me to the story of Roy Sullivan, a park ranger who was struck by lightning seven times and lived to tell the tales, earning him the nicknames the "Human Lightning Conductor" and the "Human Lightning Rod."
Mrs. S and I are hooked on the DC Comics superhero TV series Legends of Tomorrow. We highly recommend it.
Mrs. Shady loves to prepare lasagna and I am constantly urging her to make it vegetarian. She rarely listens. :)
Thank you, dear friend diedre. Have a fine Friday and a great weekend!
Hi Shady!
DeleteI read somewhere that occupations have a lot to do with your chances of being hit by lightning.
Legends of Tomorrow sounds interesting!
No meat in Lasagna? How can you have any pudding if you don't eat the meat?
A wonderful weekend to you and Mrs. Shady, my friend!
Hi Diedre - libraries, literary articles, lollypops ... et al - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary!
DeleteLollipops! I haven't even seen one in a while. Good choice!