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Did I mention I almost got hit by lightening or maybe did?
Yes, well, been a long time since I was in a thunderstorm.
Was in a rented minivan in Chicago during a storm waiting to turn right and a huge flash of white light blinds me. Came from my drivers side window. Just complete white.
I freeze, then start shaking, first asking what the hell was that, then realizing it was lightening. threw my cel phone, checked for a heartbeat, which I had because my heart was pounding. I was shaking like a leaf, the car seats, car wheel, etc... you could feel the heat.
I saw the cars on the road I was going to turn on slow way down as they approached and went by.
That is when it dawned on me they saw something and it must have been lightening striking.
I was told that lightening is attracted to mylar balloons. A little girl lost her balloons only minutes earlier outside the restaurant where I was. The balloons caught on a power line. In the heavy storm, lightening struck them.
Turns out, the balloons/power line were directly above my head by about 15 feet at most, maybe less since I was in a minivan and it sits higher.
This is what those other cars saw, lightening strike above me.
I was told that being in the car, with the tires 'grounded' probably saved my life.
I think it was the vodka cocktails that saved my sanity directly after that.
Later on we looked and the balloons were burnt up and crispy, hanging from the line. From the time I saw the little girl lose the balloons until the time lightening struck and blinded me was a total of about 5 minutes maybe. It was 1,2,3.
I don't think I will look at power lines or balloons the same way ever again that is for sure.
and... how was your day?
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