Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (June 2006, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:01:24 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      [NVC] The Electric Potter
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

Monday, June 12, 2006; 2:30 pm, Chelsea, AL

*The Main Event:*

I worked in my pottery studio today, fulfilling an order of communion ware for the national Presbytery Conference happening here. Usual story, seated on my throwing stool, potters wheel was wet, hands were wet and on the wheel, some water on the floor, left foot on the wet spot. Being engrossed in my work, I did not really notice nor pay attention to the thunderstorm that had brewed up. Seated well back from the open barn door – probably 15 feet or so - I just kept on working.

Suddenly there was a tremendous thunderclap, and a large blue streak of electricity zig-zagged across the floor from the door to where my foot was in the puddle. There was a burst of blinding blue-white light as the electrical energy of the lightening entered my foot and traveled up my body through my left leg and trunk, out my arms and to the wheel and to a ground. In a split second I was slammed against the wall four feet behind the potter’s wheel. I slid to the floor, stunned, unable to move, talk, or open my eyes.

Others in the shop with me called 911 and the Chelsea Fire Department Paramedics came to the rescue. They checked me out on the spot. I slowly came around, but as a precaution an ambulance arrived which transported me to the Birmingham VA Hospital Emergency Room for a more thorough checkup. After several hours I was released and seem to have had no ill effects but I go for a follow up checkup in a week.

*The rest of the story:*

When I returned home, I found in ruins beside my shop my favorite tree in the yard……a big towering red oak tree that had stood for many years and is a main food tree for the squirrels in the area. Lightening had struck the tree and it had exploded ….. splitting major limbs, and blasting chunks of bark, wood, leaves, and twigs out in a forty foot radius from the tree. Long 4 inch wide strips of bark were peeled vertically from the limbs and trunk as the electrical energy traveled the tree trunk.

Unknown to me at the time, three others in my studio had also received a jolt, but not nearly so bad, since they were standing on dry concrete and had on rubber bottom tennis shoes. But it was enough of a jolt to make them quite animated for a few moments.

We were all very lucky, especially me.

In the future, during a lightening storm, I will work on no machines and have no damp feet. I am going to retire to a quiet place in the middle of the house, sit on a wood chair on a wooden floor, wear my tennis shoes and read a book!!!!

Regards,

John Rodgers Chelsea, AL


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.