August 11
I can’t count how many times I’ve stood in front of that living room window and dared Mama Nature with my
seriously ?? is that it ?? is that all you’ve got ??!!?
or stepped on the back deck to catch those raindrops, feel the energy of a storm coming in.
And I can’t count, now that the kids are grown up and it’s just he and me occupying this house, how many times we’ve halfheartedly planned our what if ?? Since there is no basement to run to … hmmm.
WHAT IF ??
& how many times have I’ve seen others on the evening news cry THIS NEVER HAPPENS HERE ???
with empathy and where ?? HOW do you even BEGIN to pick up the pieces ?? wonder.
Tuesday, August 11th, started out as a regular ol regular day.
Dropped Husband off at the gym with an “ok, afterwards, we’ll run to the bank, the pharmacy, the friend’s house … see you in an hour and a half …”
per usual
& yeah, it was hot and humid with a chance of storms …
blah. blah. blah.
but somewhere around 10:45 – 11-ish ?? outside became a funky looking, greenish mix of DARK
so when the tornado sirens blared and my iPhone alerted, I turned on the tv to see what was headed our way.
& then,
wind
BIG WIND
That’s when I thought about our front closet, deemed a safe spot,
removed the this-thats in there and grabbed my backpack, which holds my driver’s license and other stuff.
The television’s sudden silence informed power failure, as I hunkered in
and …
I’ve heard it described as the sound of a freight train
and yep,
I agree.
LOUD, thunderous, insistent, the force was like no other, angrily barrelling through this town I call home.
THUMP THUMP THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP
the tree limbs fell upon our roof
and all I could do was wait and think about those I love
how are they ?? where are they ?? were they ok ??
I kept my peeps updated via text
and foolishly scurried out of hiding, once, to take a pic.
I can’t recall how many minutes passed until things quieted, but as I stepped out of that closet and into this surreal reality …
Dang, Mama Nature.
DANG.
At some point, I ventured to pick up Husband, who had his own story to tell,
and together, we tried to get to Dad’s to check on things, but roads were flooded, trees were down, our windshield smooshed.
Home was our best option as the rain began again.
I could give details of the 12 days this house was without power,
or the total range and damage this beast of a storm caused throughout,
but I’d rather concentrate on the beauty of a reminder hidden within the massive cleanup and chaos
as ambulances wailed,
as chainsaws hummed,
as generators churned,
as power companies united,
as food and comfort were shared,
as neighbors helped neighbors …
& people
always and always and ALWAYS.
Good. People.
These last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride of emotions, August 11, but lessons, wonderfully quiet lessons
you gifted too.
& wow.
WOW.
It actually happened here.
♥