I am fascinated by storms. – the more violent the better. When I lived in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, I loved watching lightning storms rolling across the sky. It was magical. Electricity crackling above me, the tingle of rain hitting exposed skin, and the acrid smell of sulfur, was like hell itself was pouring down on me. It was exciting.
Not so many mountains in Florida, but the wide vistas of open water can give you an 180° view of any approaching storm. We also have hurricanes. If you’ve ever witnessed the power of a storm of that kind of intensity, you’ve witnessed the fury of God. It’s both exhilarating and terrifying.
In the 20 years that I’ve lived on the Florida Gulf Coast, I was forced to evacuate for three storms. All Category 3 or stronger hurricanes. During a few lesser storms, I’ve gone to the beach to watch them come ashore, being careful not to be caught up in the deluge or the sirens’ song.
With the storm whipping around me, fighting to stay on my feet and keeping my eyes open, my heart pounding and my ears ringing, I also can’t stop smiling, and sometimes laughing out loud. With a wall of water and wind bearing down on me, I feel insignificant, but also part of something incredible.
If I had the wherewithal, I would be a storm chaser in a heartbeat.
Thin spiral notebook 
I would take a sea storm over an earthquake any day. We’ve had our share here, but nothing like you’ve experienced on the waterfront. I have friends that live near the ocean that are from Michigan that are waiting to experience their first hurricane, LOL. I envy that you lived in the foothills of the Smoky Mtns. Our vacation there this summer made me fall in love with the place.
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If there is a good thing about Hurricanes, it is that you know days in advance where they are headed. While it may do great damage to buildings and roads, you have time to gather what you need and leave the area. My recommendation is to always evacuate when you’re given that order. Things can be replaced, people can’t.
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Yes, I remember when I was about 10-12, my parents always took our family vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC and one year while we were there, a hurricane came through so we stayed in a hotel off the beach for a day or two. When we went back, there was some damage to the vacation park and an alligator in the water at the beach.
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I can smell the salt and hear the whistle of the wind from your first header picture. I love what you have written too, Storm Chaser. Me too, I love storms, and I miss them not living in the tropics any more. There’s something so powerful about them, and somehow, I’m never afraid.
Storm chasing sounds like a wonderful occupation! 🙂
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