Hail to Mother Nature

So as we know, nature's freak phenomenons will be on the rise with the planet heating up.

Two days ago, the South Shore was hit by a storm of extreme violence. Wind and rain lashing with unbelievable force. Well protected behind the windows of the office, I watched in awe and jubilation as all hell broke loose.

The return home was a little less pleasant as I discovered my area was out of power. Do we take power for granted or do we take power for granted? The more we rely on electronic life, the more at loss we feel when it fails. No, we can't cook supper. No we can't microwave popcorn. No we can't watch TV. No, we can't check what's happening on the computer. No we can't call or receive calls, except on the lone cell. Food in the fridge will be lost. Once used, the hot water won't keep coming. The fans stand idle. You can still grab a book, but you'll read only as long as there is enough light. As for waking up on time the next morning, it's touch and go since you can't set your alarm clock.

We spent the evening, the night and the next morning without power or much news. Once we were reconnected to the outside world, I discovered that a narrow corridor in Beloeil, Mont-Saint-Hilaire and Otterburn Park was hit by hail. Huge hail. Enormous hail. I was shown a Ziploc bag of the culprits: we're talking chunks of ice the size of my fist!!! I'd never seen anything like it. So for the unlucky people in the hail corridor, the vehicles were pummelled. Cars, from the rusted tin cans to the luxurious sedans, were beaten up like with baseball bats. Windshields shattered, and the tops and hoods completely indented. Nothing deep, yet unmistakable. I'll try to get a picture. (It's actually worse in real life than on the pics.)

Needless to say, the tenderly tended gardens and flower beds were slaughtered. Trees were maimed. But the damage nature inflicts on nature never really shocks me. The damage it inflicted on thousands of cars in my neighbourhood, including many friends', left me stunned. Cars are tough metal things. I thought. All within one hour. Wow.