I have seen and been close to...

I have seen and been close to lightning and thunder here and abroad,

but never this close.

I was at my sister’s house in Costa Mesa when thunder rocked the

house -- it sounded like the sky burst open.

We all jumped up and looked out the window. Another blast lighted

up the sky. It seemed like it touched down just blocks away.

I, of course, ran for my camera, pointed at the sky and hoped for

the best. My nephew and I urged the lightning to blast above our

heads once more time for the cameras, as he pointed his video camera

into the sky. We knelt, sat, stood back-to-back, stared into the sky.

Nothing. We waited.

Crack! Right over our heads!

It was so close the bolt’s origin didn’t show up in the photo.

We guessed that it touched down a block away. Too close for

comfort, but you’re not getting good pictures if you aren’t close

enough. Point and shoot!

-- Don Leach