Road Trip and Thunderstorms

15 and Week number three of Rise and Write.  Pop over to visit Natalia at Out of the Writers Closet to learn more.  The prompt for today is to write about a thunderstorm.

The Midwest hosts regular thunderstorms each summer, leaving n shortage of events to think about.  I love a good loud rolling thunder and a cracking of lightning in the sky. I am fortunate that none of my children were frightened by them, just the opposite.  On the severe ones that trigger the sirens going off, each would like to still , if we would have let them, stand by the back double windowed door and watch the show in all its majesty. 

Driving in a thunderstorms is another matter. The most memorable experience was in the summer of 2002.  We had all been at my nephews graduation party for the day, but were set to leave early the next morning for a 11 hour road trip to Branson, Missouri for vacation.  DH and the older kids went home earlier to do a final packing, and preload the car.  The plan was to be on the road by 5:00.  I was staying longer to help my sister clean up, and keep DD#2, then an 18 month old toddler, out of his way.  Before the party ended, the first of what was going to be a series of storms came through. By the time I was about to go home, there were already several streets  impassable due to flash flooding.  The storms continued, giving  DH little sleep.  finally about 2:00, and a break in the storms, he decided it would behoove us to just get on the road.  He was wide awake and figured the kids would sleep more and after driving 3-4 hours, we could stop for breakfast and a stretch, and he could get a 30 minute nap.  

We weren't prepared for the storm to follow our route south.  Within an hour outside of town, the rains picked up again.  They continued to be heavier with each mile until eventually it was so hard by the time we reached the Iowa border, he couldn't see and we were forced to pull over. It was still very early morning and no hint of sun, making vision even poorer.  The kids slept on, the little one in her car seat, and the older two locked in with seat belts, but each stretching out as best they could making makeshift beds with their pillows and blankets. We just sat on the side of the highway, along with all the other cars, waiting until it seemed like conditions were improved. After 30 minutes or so, the rain was slowing down, sight improved, and DH gently coaxed the van back on the road.  once more we had to pull over, and a second time, we were rerouted off the highway via an exit ramp, and back onto it via he entrance ramp. Apparently the section of highway in between had standing water so deep, cars were getting stalled. Slowly the rain stopped and by the time the sun was coming up, the storm seemed to be winding down.   The kids groggily woke up, asking when we were stopping for food. We stopped at probably a fast food place off the highway where I took the kids in to eat.  DH stayed in the van and slept hard. It was sunshine and blue sky's for the remainder of our trip.