Mother Nature’s Spectacular

For nearly 25 years, until his death in 2015, retired grocer Don Behm wrote a column for The Storm Lake Times, “Cracker Barrel.” Don’s everyman view of everyday life was a favorite of Times readers. We thought our new publication schedule would be a good time to reintroduce him to his old friends and introduce him to new readers who will appreciate his wisdom and homespun views on life. Thanks for the memories, Don.

It was a perfect 4th of July, not too hot and just cool enough so that the sun felt good when it came out. All our kids were here but one, and most of the grandkids with them.

We enjoyed the parade and the crowds of people who swarmed into Storm Lake. Our grandkids could only talk about the fireworks that would go off at 10 p.m.

Finally at about 9:30 we decided to drive out to the lake. We started out as a small caravan but soon because of the heavy traffic, we each went our separate ways. The shores of Storm Lake were teeming with people but we somehow found each other again at the lake and got a good seat for a clear view of the fireworks.

Fireworks of a smaller nature were going on all around us with a lot of noise to keep you wide awake.

About 9:45 we noticed a bolt of lightning across the lake to our left. Then it was answered by a bolt to the far right. Again to the left and then right. Suddenly the middle answered with a bolt of lightning. It began to look like a duel as the whole horizon lit up with first sheet lightning and now and then interlaced with chain lightning that would snake across the sky horizontally.

This became more and more awesome as the lake would shimmer from the bolts of lightning that reflected back along the shoreline. Added to this were incessant showers of lightning bugs who, it seemed, were trying to get into the act.

Since there were no trees or houses to block the view, it was Mother Nature in all her glory. We were so engrossed in the show by Mother Nature that the man-made extravaganza was nearly overlooked.

So we were still watching the Mother Nature show of lightning and the smaller lightning bugs when we realized it was time for the grand finale of the man-made fireworks.

A brilliant display, then it was over. To me and most of my family, the fireworks were good but nothing to what Mother Nature had given us free. This might be called the Mother of Spectaculars.

This was Don Behm’s first column in The Storm Lake Times, published Aug. 14, 1992.