Storms and sunsets

The last six years, I have felt especially connected to the natural phenomena of nature: the flash floods and full moons, the spectacular sunsets and lightning storms. Sometimes they come to soothe me, sometimes to distract, at other times to exhilarate and impress, and sometimes just to say "I see you. I'm here too."

Five years ago when I was suffering from incredible heartbreak and betrayal, the sky opened up suddenly and it poured and poured. Even in my depressed state, I couldn't help but watch in awe at the sheer quantity of water coming down and filling the street below. Soon my awe was accompanied by delight and good-humored mischief as my sleepy Cambridge street became a source of entertainment. The street had flooded and the water line reached halfway up car tires, and yet, there were still cars driving down the street trying to careen or skate or cajole themselves past the small city lake that blocked their exit onto Mass Ave. One after another they sped up and got stuck. Others tried timing their attempts to ride the coattails of the car before them. One or two cars tried to crawl slowly through the foot of water. Was my life still in shambles? Sure. But this was hilarious and amazing, and I knew everything would be ok.

Now, as I drive away from the east coast and towards a future with both questions and certainties, I am surrounded on all sides by the earth's incredible phenomena and as I drive towards the increasing, though temporary, darkness of night, I can't help but smile. I have no idea what's happening, but I am held on all sides. How do I know? Because on my left is a cool, full moon, the biggest and brightest of the year, on my right racing past the car windows is a blazing sunset of fiery reds and oranges, and in front of me leading the way is a lightning storm. The lightning storm keeps me company for hours, both lighting up the sky en masse as well as with the occasional well-defined, impressive bolt. I drive within this cradle of nature's phenomena and think to myself, "Ok, I believe you, I'm coming, I'm coming."

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/9d1cdc_d5c146b1e91640c29e46a8f5528943f5/1080p/mp4/file.mp4