Sense of Place

                I believe I have a strong connection to nature, more specifically when it comes to the humid, wet, and stormy weather that sunny Florida seems to attract. It rains and storms quite often here and throughout the years I have gained a sense of appreciation and admiration for the wet weather. Although others may be turned away from the storms, I however find an odd attraction to them. I find myself admiring the rain, thunder and lightning, even the smell of refreshing vapors after a spring storm has grabbed my attention. During harsh storms as a young girl I would find myself running to my mother for comfort, only to find nothing but an empty bed. She would be out on our front porch watching the storm as it passed overhead. “There’s nothing to be afraid of Danielle, it’s only a thunderstorm,” She would tell me. I remember one night after being awoken during a storm I walked out onto the front porch to find my Mom counting after a bright flash cracked through the sky. “Why are you counting?” I asked “It’s how you can tell how far away that lightning bolt struck.” She encouraged me to come outside and watch a storm by myself. “Listen to the rain, and if you’re ever scared just breathe deep and count in between the flashes and bangs.” I attribute this specific memory to my future fascination to thunderstorms and their ability to clear and cleanse the lands they pass over. I feel that thunderstorms have an overlooked beauty in this world. I believe that by having this experience and learning from it that I can apply these concepts to other aspects of nature.