Browsing Reddit’s top news stories this week is dizzying. The insider trading, corruption, and lack of accountability make me feel as queasy as I did last night after eating too much strawberry shortcake.
So I’ll switch my thinking to something of a palate cleanser—like the literal tug-of-war match we played today. A group of us adults went head-to-head with the kids. We won, of course, but my enthusiasm for the victory was that of a professional wrestler on Friday Night SmackDown. My competitiveness knows no bounds.
Also worth noting is my conversation with a woman I gravitate towards at these gatherings. I’m realizing I’m drawn to people whose values echo mine, and she’s one of them. Her humor is quirky in the best way—think eccentric stand-up comic—and talking to her kicked my whole day up a notch. It’s not just her, though. Several of the women here have that warm, quick wit that’s starting to feel like home.
Right now, I’m standing just inches from the window. It’s dark and quiet inside, but outside is a different story. A severe thunderstorm has landed. The wind whooshes, and across the field, flashes of lightning light up the sky in bursts. As another gust hits the house sideways, Dave—watching the storm next to me—says, “I hate this so much. It scares me.”
I feel that. These century-old oak trees are stunning and stately—but in weather like this, they feel like a threat. And as I’ve learned in our eight months here—
Oh. The power just went out. Now it’s really dark.
With no Wi-Fi, I might have to send this by Pony Express. Wait—since we’ve got a gas stove, does that still work? Let’s see… yep! It does!
How cool is that?!
Not even three minutes later, and the power’s back. That’s some service!
Maybe I’ll leave you in suspense, imagining me battling this big bad storm, while I hurry to post this before the internet cuts out again.
Tomorrow, I’ll tell you how I broke the community lawn mower. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t supposed to cut the tall hay-like grass in the backyard—only the shorter stuff.
Oooh—big thunder. I better go.
Love,
Jaclynn
Going On 40 