HDL001b

future, I am getting to be a regular
guy when it comes to writing letters
since I have been here. I cannot
say the same about receiving them.

Last night we had one of the
biggest electrical storms that I ever
want to have a chance to see. I went
on guard at nine o'clock, with the
sky a little bit cloudy, but with
little idea of a storm, and consequently
I didn't take my poncho or overcoat
with me. I had no more than got on
port, when it began to thunder and
rain. The lightening would light
up the sky for minutes at a time. I
didn't mind that with the rain and
thunder so much, as I knew I would
have to get used to it, but when the
lightening struck a power house
not more than forty feet from me
and the sparks seemed to fly all
around, with the thunder deafening
and the rain coming down in torrents
-- well I began to wonder if my
insurance policy was paid up. It wasn't
many minutes before another bolt struck
the power house, and all the lights
in the plant went out. I was over three
hundred feet from it, but just the
same I wouldn't have given very
much for my life at that time. (I
guess you can tell I am using my fountain
pen.) The storm last night makes the
second one we've had since the company
arrived. The other was "tame" to the one
last night. When I was relieved at 12
o'clock I looked like a drowned
rat, but am none the worse from
the experience. You can take it from
me that California lightening will
never make me the least bit nervous
after that session. Today the sun is