It’s better in person

Editor’s note: This letter was originally published 10 years ago today.

Times are different.

Just a couple of evenings ago, I was watching the local late news and weather. A cold front and squall line had just passed through the area.

The weatherman was showing pictures of the lightning that viewers sent in. After some oohing and aahing, he finished the forecast and urged his watchers to send in more pictures.

I thought back to about an hour earlier. As a longtime weather nut, I knew a storm was approaching and when the sky began to light up and thunder rumbled, I stepped out on the back deck.

The display was impressive. The woods were as bright as day for an instant, and then they turned dark. Overhead, the roiling clouds would appear, then disappear. The wind began to gust, and soon the rain came. After 10 to 15 minutes of this free show, I went back into the house.

Then I thought to myself, yeah, those pictures were okay, but I had experienced the storm in person, plus some great sound effects.

JACK SADENWASSER

Bella Vista