As we stepped out from the theatre, Saskatchewan slapped us in the face.
Last Friday, as is tradition, I trekked to Yorkton Tower Theatre for my weekly movie review. The cinematic offering was Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. A friend (we’ll call him Michael Crichton in honour of the movie’s source material) joined me. After two hours of mindless dino-destruction (check out the full review on our website, wink wink, nudge nudge), we stood up and stretched to relieve our bodies from the agony of sitting in barely-cushioned chairs. We decided to get a bite to eat.
We waded through the packed lobby, sidestepping families and couples. We pushed past the door and entered a tsunami.
During our movie-going experience, the skies had erupted into a massive thundershower. Rain filled every square inch of Yorkton. Rumbling thunder seemed to shake the ground (okay, that might be a tad hyperbolic).
Crichton and I decided to bail on food and return to our respective homes to make sure we’d closed our windows. I clung under awnings as I walked to my car. I was drenched by the time I sat behind the wheel.
I flicked on the radio as I splashed over puddles. I switched the dial to Fox FM just as a lightning bolt tore through the sky. There was dead silence. No music, no static, nothing. The lightning had killed the radio signal. It was just me and the rain.
Broadway Street’s lights flickered on and off. The sun hadn’t set but it felt like midnight. The storm had brought the night in early.
I returned home to a dark apartment. Without touching the light switches, I knew the power was out. The familiar hum of electricity was gone. I grabbed my flashlight from the closet and lit four candles on my kitchen table. I sat in front of them, listening to the rain.
Now, it must be said that thunderstorms are nothing to take lightly. Power outages and accidents can be a big problem.
But sitting in the dark as lightning and rain raged outside my window felt oddly relaxing. The storm stripped away all the distractions in my home, leaving me with the essentials. All I had were my thoughts (and four rapidly melting candles).
I think it’s important to step outside our tech bubble from time to time.Looking away from our screens, even for a moment, can be the key to a clear head. Our rough weekend storm was a nice reminder about life away from the constant buzz of 2018.
Of course, once the power came back 30 minutes later, I plugged in my phone, turned on all the lights, and restarted my Wi-Fi. I said I like to step away; I didn’t say I like to walk away.
