When I took the livestock guarding dogs (Alka and Boro) over to the sheep last night I was treated to a spectacular light show from an approaching thunder storm.  As I fed them and the sheep the thunder began to roll and rain began to spit.  I put my cell phone and my wallet in the truck to keep dry and kept on with the chores, thinking about how the chains I attach to the truck to feed Alka and Boro before putting them in with the sheep make perfect grounds for lightning.  Everything went fine and I finished the chore and drove home.  Several thoughts occur to me:  I resonate to the light and power of thunder storms.  I am reminded that I am not in charge, that life and nature are transient, rich, and beautiful.  I also know that there are consequences to my actions, that if I make perfect ground connections that I am increasing the risk of a lethal consequence.  So, part of my humanity is risk taking - something I already knew about myself.  In my youth I joined the Army and went to Vietnam, then spent 20 years in law enforcement.  I still drive too fast for conditions.  I am selling my house with no fixed replacement for me (and Jill), my animals and my other property.  I take other risks on a daily basis, sometimes without thinking about consequences.  At least I don't drink.  I wonder about how much of human "progress" is as a result of this kind of risk taking, whether it is adaptive.  I wonder how much of it is "male" and a product of testoserone surges.  I guess I'm not too old after all.

A negative consequence to the thunder storm:  Maude, one of our Border Collies and Jill's favorite, is extraordinarily thunder-phobic.  She got out at the beginning of the storm last night and still hasn't returned.  We've looked for her to no avail.  I hope she comes back soon.