Outtakes 140

Windy

By Cait Collins

Spring tends to bring on the winds in the Texas Panhandle. We sometimes refer to blustery days as the wind driving down from the north with nary a fence to stop it. Yes, trees are scarce on the High Plains. While I get tired of bad hair days and red dirt on everything, I find the sounds and scents intriguing.

Think of the number of words used to describe the wind. Tornados, hurricane force, breezy, zephyr, blowing, howling, gusty, gentle, blizzard are among the descriptions. Each word helps to set a scene, evoke emotions, and create an atmosphere. How many romantic suspense stories are set in a blizzard? Trapped in a ski lodge, two strangers unite to survive a cat burglar and a serial killer. Their need to rely on each other to survive brings them closer together as the wind howls and the snow piles up. It may sound hokey, but a skilled writer makes it work.

Wind not only has sound, it touches, has a taste, and a scent. And while we cannot see the wind, we see the effect of its passing. We can open our arms to the gale, hide in the basement or a bathtub when the tornado blows through, or bask in the in the gentle breeze on a sunny afternoon. With all its properties, it is no wonder this weather element is often used as a secondary character in stories and books.  The wind takes on a personality when incorporated into our works.

Today the winds are battering. Even with my heavy purse, walking from the office to my car was difficult. The air temperature wasn’t bad, but the high wind made it feel much colder. My heavy sweater was not enough to keep me warm. So it was inconvenient, but it did make me think about writing Panhandle winds into my stories.