Ever since I was a kid, whenever a storm was brewing, I would go into cleaning mode. A few days ago the skies grew very dark, the wind increased its intensity by several miles per hour, and the radar showed a gigantic rain storm heading towards us. Then, as happens all too often here in Wheatland, the clouds parted. Some swept away to the southeast and the rest to the northeast, but we did not get a single drop of rain. I am not sure why this happens, but I suspect that it has something to do with the elevation. At any rate, I was able to complete some house cleaning that up until then, I had neglected in lieu of my more pressing gardening projects.
I do not know the psychological reasons for my cleaning frenzies at the threat of a severe storm. Perhaps it is akin to the nesting instinct exhibited by a mother who is about to go into labor. Maybe it is just my basic need to feel safe. Much like the squirrels that stock up nuts to see her through the winter, we humans often stock up on winter clothing. We “winterize” our automobiles and our homes for storms that are yet to come. I know logically, that if my home is hit by a tornado, it will not make one iota of difference, whether or not it is clean and orderly. Still, this compulsion that I have, to clean, seems to be a kind of basic instinct that is embedded in my genes. Maybe this behavior is unique to me – an eccentric idiosyncrasy of me, alone.
I love storms. I love the power that moves them and I am appreciative that it is the one thing my fellow man is not able to control. We can prepare for storms and be alerted when they are imminent; but we are still at Mother Nature’s mercy – thankfully!
