Oh, I Love a Rainy Night! 2.0

 (A version of this blog was originally posted on February 28, 2014)

Image courtesy of Microsoft

It’s raining in Southern California. Not just a drizzle or the light showers. Oh, no. This is real, honest-to-goodness, I-mean-business rain. I woke up to the rumbling of thunder and the sound of rain drops splattering against the roof and my windows. This is already the second or third big storm to hit Southern California this season, and (apparently) there is another El Niño event predicted for this year. Los Angeles ABC7 meteorologist Dallas Raines has predicted a series of storms to pass through Southern California through the weekend, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Just like Eddie Rabbitt sings in his hit song, “I Love a Rainy Night,” rain quite simply makes me feel good. It is my subconscious known, my happy place. It is the climate and weather that makes me feel comfortable and cozy and relaxed. It reminds me of happy memories doing my post-graduate degree at Goldsmiths College in London, studying and writing my research thesis with rain pounding against the window panes at the college library or in the front room of the house where I lived with friends. It washes the metaphoric cobwebs out of my mind the way it cleans the months-old accumulation of dirt and dust off of the leaves and plants outside. The fresh, clean air inspires me to get down to work, to do my best work. Best of all, rain gives me an opportunity—okay, an excuse—to really enjoy some down time and relax. I allowed myself to sleep in this morning. Then, I spent a good part of the afternoon catching up on social media, promoting my special offer to help lose weight through hypnotherapy. Tonight, I will curl up and finish reading a book I’ve been working on.

Although the heavy rain is not conducive to riding my horse, it is great for hanging out with Galahad in his barn. In addition to cleaning his stall and grooming (especially cleaning his hooves), I like to read to him and spend some quality time with my boy. Yes, there is more to enjoy having my own horse than just riding, as other horse lovers will appreciate. Later, at home, I still have some early spring-cleaning tasks to do, such as get tax information to present to my accountant next month. I have enrolled in two more continuing-education courses, so this weekend will be a good opportunity to start those. 

But, tonight—and all weekend—I will fall asleep listening to the music of rain on my windows and, fingers crossed, the sound of thunder rumbling and crackling overhead. 

I love rain…

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Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2019

Twister in Our Backyard

(This blog was originally posted on December 15, 2014)

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

Waterspouts, which are tornadoes that form over the ocean, are often reported off the coast of Southern California during the winter. However, it is very rare that a tornado actually hits a major California city. But that is exactly what happened on Friday, December 12, 2014: a twister touched down in South Los Angeles suburb. The National Weather Service classified it as an EF0, which is the lowest rank with winds measuring 65-85 miles per hour. Regardless of the wind speed, this phenomenon was not something that most Los Angeles residents are used to seeing let alone experiencing. Sure, we get the occasional downdraft during a heavy rainstorm in a mild or weak El Nino season. But this time it really was a tornado that ripped rooftops off of homes, knocked down trees and damaged several cars that were in its path.

According to ABC7 meteorologist Dallas Raines, the part of California where this one struck is actually a kind of “hot spot” for wild weather: a hot spot west of the Mississippi River that is. One resident who got caught in the storm video-recorded the entire event from his home. His footage showed debris swirling in the air and the sound of rushing wind and banging as airborne objects crashed into each other.

Now, I am fascinated by weather—especially extreme weather. However, on Friday I was equally if not more curious to hear and read about eye-witness reactions to the storm. Most of the people who were interviewed for the evening news expressed surprise, shock and fear about what they had gone through. After all, most of us associate tornadoes with states like Kansas, Oklahoma and even Florida. Not California. We get earthquakes. In fact, one woman explained that her first impression of the tornado was that she was experiencing an earthquake because her house was shaking so hard. Apparently she even sought shelter under a piece of furniture to wait out the movement, just as California residents are taught to do. 

This witness’s initial reaction made complete sense to me. After all, California is known for its earthquakes. They happen every day whether we feel them or not. Residents are often reminded to keep emergency supplies on-hand and even rehearse plans to reconnoiter with family members and escape the danger zone after a major tremor. The knowledge that “the big one is coming” becomes so ingrained in our subconscious mental script that if significant time passes without experiencing any kind of tremor, our collective anticipatory anxiety increases. Some people associate earthquakes with specific weather, such as extreme heat that continues over extended periods of time. But this was no earthquake, and the idea of a tornado happening in Los Angeles, California was so far out of most people’s experience or expectations made it that much more terrifying.

Fortunately no one was seriously injured or died during the storm. And next time dark clouds move in, everyone in the state will have a new script they can refer to if the weather looks like it might become severe. Extreme weather can happen anywhere, even in Southern California. Next time, we will have a better idea about what the warning signs are so we can stay safe until the sun comes out again.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2018