The Sky

When I was in the fifth grade, our second floor classroom had windows that opened to the western sky.  When I started teaching sixth grade, my first classroom at Milford Township had windows that opened to the west--it was on the second floor, too.  I love the western sky.

I have had a "thing" for windows my entire life.  I like the outdoors. I like watching the clouds.  I love the Weather Channel.  I'm impressed by the stories the sky can tell me.

I love looking at the Iowan sky.  Remember, I grew up on the land of the prairies.   The trees that dot our town were purposefully planted by the settlers.

I had a wonderful view of the western sky at Lakeview Elementary in Centerville, Iowa where I taught fourth grade for six years.  I loved seeing the heavy gray clouds lumber towards us bringing snow.  Snow clouds are full....they look like feather pillows bursting at the seams....snow.....an automatic, "Put up the books and put on your coats.  We're going to catch fat snowflakes on our tongues."

The green skies of the tornado season puts fear in my heart.  I'm cautious on those days when the clouds start building skyscrapers with their anvil tops.  You can watch the clouds bubble and gurgle as their height increases.   "Bring In the laundry from the line.  Hurry!  Rain is coming."

The true tornado sky in my book of "Erin's facts that she has proven herself"is one where the sky looks like hundreds of large marshmallows.  Somewhere someone is going to have a twister.  Betcha' a dollar!  Shoot, I'll bet you a ten-spot!  And if you do see a sky like that, head for cover and grab a flashlight.  Don't worry about hearing a warning....your eyes will tell you faster than the siren can sound.  Beware of the marshmallow sky!

Tonight I stood on the front porch of the house where my father was born.  I watched the sun set in the western sky.  Pinks, purples, and periwinkle clouds on the horizon......yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows in the sky.