One of the things I miss most about living in the Midwest is summer thunderstorms. The way the air feels just before the storm breaks, the smell of the wet pavement, the feeling of warm rain. I really really hate the cold winter rain of Southern California. We occasionally have thunderstorms in the winter and I do get excited about those because that's the closest we get here.

Yesterday was a first. We actually had a summer thunderstorm. It didn't quite have the power and wild energy of a midwest storm that rolls in over the plains, but it was good enough for me.

Marcelo was upstairs putting Marc down for his nap and I had Alex sleeping in my arms downstairs when the thunder started. When I heard the rain, I couldn't believe it. I opened the patio door and stood there while it rained.