The Panic Room

Right off the dressing room is another room that I referred to in the

wee hours of this morning as the ~ "Panic Room".

It's right through this door.  Come along and I will show you.

Last night I woke up at 2:30 am to booming thunder and continuous 

flashes of lightning.  Terrifying for me and I will tell  you why.  Years

ago I was living in Houston and my house was struck by lightning while

I was at home.  I have probably already told you about this story, but it is

important to the events of this morning.  

I am now terrified of thunderstorms.  Up in Idaho we did not have so

many except for dry lightning in the summer.  Also scary up in the 

mountains.  But mostly we were safe.  Down here in south Texas

we can get some huge ones.  So when I was awakened at 2:30, I first

turned to David.  Sound asleep.  No worries for him.  Bentley was

not scared either.  I on the other hand was trembling in fear.

I tried a sleep mask, but I could still see flashes of light around the edges.

I was counting the seconds between the light and the thunder.  Wow ~ too

close for comfort.  I had to get control of myself.  So I said a prayer and

decided to go into the only room in the house without windows ~

the master bath.  

Bentley came with me despite not being the least bit afraid.  I closed 

off the entrance to the bath and lit all of the flameless candles for

ambience.  Y'all know me, ambience reigns supreme :-)  I turned on 

the radio and listened to a program about dreams on Coast to Coast AM.

I could still hear the thunder which was deafening at times, but no

flashes of light.  I sat on the floor until 4:15 am when it seemed like

the storm was moving farther away.  

But the storm hung on or perhaps it was a new one rolling in.  By

this time David was awake.  He asked me if I was okay knowing my

fear of thunder and lightning.  I told him I was getting through the

storm without the usual meltdown.  I told him about my "panic room"

and although he had a good laugh, he was proud of me for dealing

with my fear.  The storms lasted for a couple of more hours, but

I was feeling less terrified and more empowered.

Now the bathroom can be a scary place for a woman.  That's where the

scale is kept and panic can occur when a girl finds out she has gained

a pound or too, or sees a new wrinkle in the mirror or a gray hair.

But the master bath with no windows is now my safe haven and I

will lovingly now refer to it as my Controlling Panic Room.

Bentley was bored while he was with me.  He really wanted to

go out on the back porch and check out the storm.  He is

one brave little soldier, but his momma said no.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley