It was a dark and stormy night....

...and I was driving home from Debbie Tatom's house. It was about this time of year and a short forty years ago. I was engaged to this wonderful woman and wanted to spend every spare minute with her. I didn't get much sleep in those days because I worked all day, went to UTA at night, and drove straight to Debbie's after my last class. I was so tired on this particular night that Debbie's mom made me go home to get some rest. I drove down Redbud from Melbourne and got about half way through the woods when I had to stop. I could not keep my eyes open. I got out of my car hoping the cool air would wake me up some. A storm was rolling in from the north, kind of like it is tonight, and the beauty of it was something to see. I stretched out on the trunk lid of my car to watch it for a while. I had drifted off to sleep when a clap of thunder just about made me wet my pants...I didn't of course. I'm not like my little brother(you had to see that coming Glenn). The storm had come in and there was thunder and lightning all around me. The wind was blowing and I could smell and hear the rain coming through the woods. About the time my feet hit the pavement the rain hit me. I was soaked before I got to the car door. I drove home wide awake! I still think about the peace of that night. It was totally quiet. The storm clouds were lighting up with the bolts of lightning behind them. A gentle rumble of thunder more felt than heard passed through the woods. There was no one else on the road....in fact, most people didn't know the road had been cut through the woods. I was young, skinny, driving a shiny 1967 Pontiac Tempest, and in love with the most beautiful girl in the world.
We drove home from that part of town tonight and watched the storm coming in north of us. We had taken my folks out to see Cody and Cayce's new house and then dropped them off. Memories kept flooding my mind of the simpler days. Would I go back? Not for all the money in the world. Am I glad I have the memories? Absolutely. I wouldn't change one single thing about my past because my present is too precious. Could I carry on a conversation with myself by asking these questions all night? Obviously. Do you find me interesting? Without a doubt I find you quite amusing. Well, thank you very much. We should do this again...I'm not sure but I think the cough medicine I took a few minutes ago is beginning to work....I feel kind of weird....good night all.