Lightening Rod

May 2000

It was May of 2000 when it happened. I had been taking a few courses at Metro State College, and was commuting to my evening class, when the incident occurred. I was walking to a new light rail station that was built on the site of a mall that was torn down a year or so before. The rest of the area was flat as they prepared to build new apartment complexes on the site of the old mall.

I remember thinking that I had to hurry and get to the light rail station as the storm clouds were beginning to blow over the top of the area I was in. I remember looking off to the west thinking how ominous the clouds looked as the marched their way toward where I was going. The wind blew strong as it does with spring storms. I never felt as if there was danger. I really never felt worried at all. I just didn’t want to have to attend class soaked to the bone with rain.

I steadied myself against wind and walked directly toward the light rail station, and also toward the storm coming at me. I heard the sound of distant thunder and thought this was going to be a good albeit quick storm. In an instant I felt every hair on my body stand on end. I felt as if I was hit for a moment, and then heard deafening thunder roll. I stayed on my feet, and paused for a moment and thought Wow! That was close, and kept making my way toward the station without giving much thought to the incident at first.

This guy comes running from about a half a block away toward me exclaiming “Whoa! Dude! Are you OK?”

 I felt dazed but other than that I felt alright so I shrugged him off and said “Yeah I’m fine I am just trying to make it to my class.”

He looked amazed at my answer and confused that I was still on my feet. It didn’t really sink in to my thick skull that I might have been stuck by lightening until I reached the light rail station. I began to feel odd, like I was outside of my body looking at my life happen as a spectator. The feeling stayed with me through class and all the way back to my house.

I got home and opened the door. I said hello to my wife and daughter. I sat for a moment feel this out of myself feeling. I grabbed a beer and stepped out to my back porch to relax. When I crossed my right foot over my left knee while lounging is when I noticed it at first. There was a hole about the size of a quarter in the heel of my new shoes. It was located at the right heel. I pondered the day’s events and thought Oh Wholly Hell! I was hit by the lightening. That’s why the guy looked so perplexed when I told him I was fine and shrugged off his inquiry and kept on my path like nothing had happened.

I called my wife out the back porch area and recounted the event of the day and she was in disbelief at first, then I showed her my shoe. She asked if I felt I needed to go get seen by a doctor. I told her I felt alright except the feeling of being outside of my life looking in. I finished my beer and called it a night. The feeling of separation lasted a day or two and then subsided. I received no gift of superpowers, no special mental abilities, or the likes. I consider my gift as being able to finish raising my daughter and many more days on this earth. Thankful for all that I have!