Things That "I" Thought During a Recent Tornado

April 27, 2011

April 3, 1974

are two dates that will forever be burned into my soul. Both are tragic dates. Dates of when killer tornados ripped through the area where I live.

April 27 saw a tornado destroy several homes that belonged to my friends and destroy the town of Hackleburg, Alabama (Google for more information) and hardly left a building standing. But today, Hackleburg has made a major comeback--rebuilding and making things new again, but with the ever-present wisdom that a tornado couid happen again in tornado season March through August.

April 3 was when I sat with my mother along with what neighbors could fit into a neighbor's storm cellar and listen to the five (F-5) tornadoes that totally-destroyed a neighboring town of Guin, Alabama (Google for more information) along with severe-damage to more little towns in its pathway.

I wrote this to explain that not all of this piece is comedy. This is not comedy. Tornados and their power to cause death and destruction are certainly not funny.

Please, if you will, remember the victims of the April 28, 2014 tornado outbreak that destroyed many homes and families in the State of Arkansas.

Thanks.

Kenneth

tornado season. That time of year that everyone where I live starts to look upward and wonder, will it be today or next week, when a "monster tornado" suddenly appears and takes our homes and lives?

If you have ever been in or seen a tornado at a distance, then you know what I am talking about. A tornado, even though it doesn't harm you, can instill in you a certain and deep fear and respect for our Maker who controls these things and yet, we flock to the window of our storm cellar to see just how bad an oncoming tornado really is.

In the text box (at right) I explain how I have been near tornados (which sound like a squadron of F-16 fighters taking off to do war) that were flying through the air and I was terrified to the point of chills running up my spine.

I am not talking Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton's conception of Hollywood-manufactured fear in the movie, "Twister," but the real thing.

And all I can tell you about the real thing, a tornado coming at you, is the most fear and dread you will ever experience.

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inspect and evaluate the thoughts "I" was having during the April 28, 2014, tornado outbreak that spawned in Oklahoma and came barreling through Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama.

I had no choice to but to focus on my thoughts since I do not own a storm cellar or a "safe room."

But I confess to you. If you can focus all of your mind's energies on real thoughts and not as much on imaginations, you stand a chance of not panicking.

(Note: My list of thoughts I had will begin underneath the photo below)

. . . . . . Did I pay last month's gas bill?

. . . . . . Sure hope my wife is okay helping our daughter and the grandkids.

. . . . . . I don't think that this storm system is going to be that bad.

. . . . . . Sure is dark all of a sudden.

. . . . . . Why is it so deathly-quiet outside--not even the birds are singing.

. . . . . . Did I tell my pastor's wife "I'm sorry for bumping into her last Sunday?"

. . . . . . I wonder if anyone would miss me if I were carried-away in a twister?

. . . . . . I ain't gonna start hollering 'Auntie Em!' and 'Hurry, Toto!"

. . . . . . That weatherman on TV sure does need a toupee.

. . . . . . Should I go and gather my desktop computer, iPad and my personal valuables?

. . . . . . You fool! If you are taken up by a twister, those things will not be important.

. . . . . . If I do get taken up by that twister they are talking about on television, I can finally know how Superman feels when he is going "Faster than a speeding bullet."

. . . . . . Wonder if I should call my good friends to tell them how much I appreciate them?

. . . . . .A will! I never bothered to make out my will! Oh dear. Ahhh, sigh! Wheew. My wife will get everything I have. What a relief. For a minute there I thought she might dump it all in a yard sale.

. . . . . . It is getting even darker. And quitter. What's that, a jet taking off?

. . . . . . I can't believe it! Those annoying telemarketers never miss a trick--calling me while I am about to be blown to kingdom come!

. . . . . . What's that? Car lights? Oh, whewwww! It's Pam, back from helping our daughter and grandkids.

Pam: Hi, honey. Were you scared that you would be blown away?

Me: Are you kidding? Haw, haw. Me? Scared?

Pam: Then why are you holding onto me like a scared kitten?