aksimonart

Reflections of us All
#57

© A.K.SIMON - Reflections of Us All - $100

Last week I learned a new word, durecho.

 (Just FYI: day-RAY-cho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms. Generally, derechos are convection-induced and take on a bow echo form of squall line, forming in an area of divergence in the upper levels of the troposphere, within a region of low-level warm air advection and rich low-level moisture. They travel quickly in the direction of movement of their associated storms, similar to an outflow boundary (gust front), except that the wind is sustained and increases in strength behind the front, generally exceeding hurricane-force. A warm-weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially during June and July in theNorthern Hemisphere, within areas of moderately strong instability and moderately strong vertical wind shear. They may occur at any time of the year and occur as frequently at night as during the daylight hours.)

Though I may have experienced one in my lifetime I had never heard this word until this week and would like to strike it from my memory. Last friday evening we had a durecho blow through our area with such force that it ripped 100 year-old trees out by the roots. Though not classified a tornado, it blew through at 85 MPH and drove me to the basement without hesitation. Many are still without power as a result and the heat still soars over 100 degrees.

So, "what" you say, "does this painting have to do with a durecho?" Though 100 year-old several ton trees were ripped from the ground some delicate flowers were left unscathed. These waterlilies, though scorching in the hot sun were unaffected by the wind and rain. Many of the trees downed were rigid oaks that don't bend or lean, they remain rigid and are forced to crack, but the willows and honey locust allow the wind to flow through them and many remain intact. So, I guess the moral of the story is to bend and be flexible in life's storms and you may just make it through unscathed (no promises).

BTW our second durecho blew through on Sunday evening and shut the power down again for those who had it restored on Saturday. But many thanks go to those stores who had ice and provided it for free to those in need and to the hundreds of power company workers who have worked in the unbearable heat to get things up and running again!