This ole house is afraid of thunder
This ole house is afraid of storms
This ole house just groans and trembles
When the night wind flings its arms
Lightning (and thunder) figure in two of my earliest memories — one that formed the foundation of my respect for the tough nature of my grandmother; the other that spoke to the more powerful and elemental strength of lightning and the earliest scary memory of my life.
First, about my grandmother. She had to be tough to survive on the North Dakota prairie after being abandoned by her then husband with two small girls before my father was born. She did what she had to do, and took a job cooking for the crew of a cattle ranch. Her day began at three in the morning, making bread for the men to eat before they went out to work with the cattle. It ended late at night setting up for the next day. Sometimes there were only a few hands working with the ranch. But during the high seasons with birthing, branding, and moving the cattle toward the railroad, there could be several dozen men to attend to, all needing bread, food, and whatever else was called for.
There are two incidents attesting to her resilience, only one related to lightning. First, while chopping firewood for the cooking stove, a rattlesnake got in the way (or from the snake’s point of view, she got in the snake’s way) and it bit her. She wrapped up her hand and kept working. Wasn’t much else she could do. And second, years later, after she’d remarried and moved to Wyoming with my grandfather and gave birth to my father, she was baking again (a single loaf, no doubt). But during the baking process, she opened the oven door, only to find herself picked up, knocked unconscious, and groggy from a bolt of lightning that came down the flue to the stove and exited through the path created by the open door. Family lore is that — just like the snake bite — It was no big deal. She put the bread on the counter, took a brief rest and continued with her day.
My lightning experience is less dramatic, but influenced by hers. Years later, we lived in Rapid City where my father was an Air Force Lieutenant. A tremendous (for me at least) storm blew in where my twin brother and I were visiting in the house next door. My mother was back at our house taking care of our older brother. It was windy and noisy, and although we liked the people next door, we cried and begged to go home. Too dangerous and rainy, we were told. We were lucky to have stayed with the neighbor as a tremulous crack and flash of light lit up the house, leaving a tremendous crack in the driveway separating the two houses. Although scared, no one
was hurt. And we learned first hand to take thunder storms seriously.
And I never forgot the few lines from “This Ole House” from the early ‘50s.
Mister Ed
A
Oh Mister Ed, totally enamored by Grandma,. Made me think of mine. What a strong woman she was. What a different generation they belonged to, humble, hard-working, with such determined everyday goals. I wonder what they think of us? Snake-bitten, almost annihilated by lightning, and still the show must go on. You definitely captured her, great read.
Thanks for your comment — we come from amazing people. I wish I’d gotten to know her (and others) more, and earlier.
Some people are just indomitable. I wish I knew more of my family history, but multiple marriages and migrations scattered us to the winds.
You’ve shared a bit about your mother before but these stories take the cake (I’m sure she would have baked a fine one in no time). Knocked woozy by lightning, no problem, must get on with my baking! You come from strong stock, Mr. Ed. Please share every story about her that you cam think of!
I’ve got some interesting grandparents, for sure.
Oops, of course I mean your grandmother.
Thanx for sharing your amazing grandmother with us Mr Ed, she was certainly quite a gal!
Your past family stories have been fascinating as well but this tale of your grandma and the lightning bolt in her oven really takes the cake!
How wonderful to have these stories about your grandmother! Thanks for sharing. She sounds incredibly strong and amazing.
Yes, the brief description of Grandma was the highlight for me, and left me hoping for more about her, or your relationship with her. Thanks for the vicarious pleasure of visiting with her and the whole crew.
These are amazing stories of lightning encounters. I love the description of your tough and resilient grandmother.