Having gone through a direct hit by a tornado years ago and then having two near misses within the last five years, I have mixed feelings about the possibility of a tornado hitting us. First of all, this house is little better than a mobile home because of the crawl space under the house. I would have preferred we either had a basement or was on a cement slab. The wind could catch that space and just lift our whole house up in the air with no problem.
When Dennis and Diane built their house across the street and built a safe room (aka storm shelter) into it that we have been invited to share, that took some of the *scary* out of the possibility of a tornado hitting us directly. There is enough time between spotting one and having it hit that we should be able to make it across the street. We even have a key to their house should they not be home.
When we were hit by a tornado years ago, it was truly a scary event. To see the roof over our head just get sucked up into the air was life-changing. I didn't even stop to think but headed for the porch to get down to the basement of the apartment building we lived in at the time. It never even occurred to me that I was stark naked at the time but the Beast grabbed our comforter and put it around me to cover me up. Of course, with the crazy wind, it was more of a cape until we got out of the wind.
I'm not going to describe it all but, for years, I could not sleep during a thunderstorm but would be up until it passed or it got light outside. The worst things that can happen with a tornado is for it to be either *rain-wrapped* in a super storm cell or for it to hit at night. You can't see it at night except if you spot it during lightning strikes.
I'm not so much afraid of tornadoes like I once was but I DO find it difficult to sleep when it's possible for one to hit us during the night. You can't count on someone spotting it in time to hit the warning sirens. I want enough time to get out of here with the pets and our medications and important papers so I end up being unable to sleep. That's because the Beast threw out our storm warning radio. He hated the *alert* on it....and it alerted us any time one was spotted within a 50 mile radius. Some of those travel very, very fast but he seems to think we will always wake up before we get hit. Sure....sure we will.
The series of tornadoes that have already hit in various parts of Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky have had me worried just because of all the family and friends we have in those areas. I want no one to suffer but especially my family. We've lost enough family and friends due to natural causes. I would hate to have a tornado or two be responsible for losing anyone.
So here I sit, typing away and it isn't even raining right now. But the weather prediction says 100% chance of showers and thunderstorms with the possibility of destructive high wind gusts and/or tornadoes. *Sigh* I opened up the window here in my computer room so that I can hear the sirens....if they go off. It will also allow me to hear the wind when it starts up and I can always go out on the deck to see what I can see. Forewarned is forearmed.
Poor Diane is in the hospital. I got an email from Dennis after they admitted her but he didn't say why she was admitted. I will have to call in the morning. She never gets sick so that's kind of scary. It has to be serious. She's a doctor and is very conscious of keeping healthy with a good diet and some supplemental vitamins. She's not a nut about that, just likes a good vitamin and mineral supplement since no one can eat all the nutrition needed every day. It's always worked for her and it's sure helped Dennis since he had his kidney removed after they discovered it was cancerous. He's been very active and seems in fairly decent health since then. I should feel so good!
Well I guess I will close this for now or it will end up a novel. Say a prayer for all the family affected so far by the spate of tornadoes that have already hit in the various states. Last count was 21 reported in eight states and more to come. Love you all. Be safe. ***Hugs***
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