alright, im gonna try this --

talking to bluesbaby on the phone this evening, she says to me, girl, we are gonna have some nasty weather tonight...in all my infinite wisdom, i say, no girl, i dont think it will hit us this time...man, was i wrong


the storm was approaching our area, gotta give it up for the weathermen here, they got this shit down to a science !!! they tell ya minute by minute when its commin to your area. i phoned my sister-in-law down the street, and said, ya know, its about 20 miles out from us, and headed right in our direction. she seemed rather unimpressed, talking about what time she had to get up in the morning, and that she needed to get my nephew to bed early. i said, i will call you and keep you updated.


i phoned her again, as the storm was approx. 10 miles away from us, still headed in a straight path, right towards us. again, she was calm, telling me she was listening to the radio (they have no cable there) and it was saying that it didnt seem that bad. i said, alright, whatever, im watching it, and its comming this way !!! she said, alright, if the sirens go off, we will come down, she lives about 4 houses down. i hung up, thinking, alright, this is nuts.


the last time i called to give her an update, i said, look !! the storm is within one mile of our city, something must be done !!! she was like, alright, i will get the babies shoes on, and we will be there. now, i hung up again, thinking, this is totally nuts, i know what the hell im seein, why isnt she concerned ? at any rate, my son came up to me, and in trying to keep the mood light, he stood in front of me quoting the matrix i believe.... I DONT BELIEVE IN FATE !!!! I BELIEVE IN DESTINY !!! AND IF WE WILL DIE, WE WILL DIE LIKE MEN !!!!! (something like that) i remember i gave him a highfive, he was trying to keep his mood calm, and i appreciated that.


but, just then, my baby girl who was standing in the doorway started screaming, and i jumped up to look.....i saw a construction sign, one of the big ones.....being thrown down the street like a piece of paper....it was from 3 blocks down street !!!! i grabbed my baby girl, and the only thing i saw was the wind blowing so hard, it was blowing the rain sideways....sticks, and paper being flung all over the place, the noise was intense, very loud, and very very scary.


now, i live in a flat one level house, no basement, but we do have a cellar. the best thing i could think to get the kids in someplace safe was to throw them in the pantry, which is exactly what i did. but, when i turned around, and saw out the back window, it was so bad out there, i knew we had to go downstairs....so, i grabbed their hand, and we ran out into the storm to get undercover. when we went around the corner of the house, i saw my car, i drive an older volvo station wagon (we call him george), he is very very solid, and extremely safe....there were 3 huge tree parts laying over him, and all the windows on the drivers side had been shattered out. as soon as i saw that, i knew we were in serious trouble. i was able to peel the door open to the celler, fighting the wind and the rain, praying that more trees didnt fall on the babies heads....


we crawled down to an area that is about 3 feet by 4 feet, and dark as hell, there was no light down there at all...spider webs all over the place, water all over the floor. the kids were both crying their eyes out, and i was trying to comfort them...i told them that no tornado would get them away from me, but, on the inside, i thought, dear god, we are in some serious trouble here !!!!! all got quiet outside, so quiet it makes it more scary...and i heard footsteps outside....it was my sister-in-law and my nephew comming for shelter, as they couldnt get into their cellar. i opened the door, got them both in, we were packed into such a small place, kids screaming and crying, and the unknown outside.....i didnt have a radio down there, and in the rush to get everyone downstairs, i dropped my phone in the rain, it wouldnt let me dial but a few numbers, so i called 911 and asked the lady there if we could get out now, meaning, is the shit over ????? she said, maam, we are still under a tornado warning, it is up to you what you do. you could hear sirens all around us, and the kids were still crying. finally, my phone rang, it was my sister, she said, alright, you can get out now, its over, the storm has passed you.


when we came out, there were trees all over the place, trash was everywhere, and there were folks outside looking at the damage. my car, oh my god, its trashed....but, i am so thankful that the kids and i are alright.....ya know, bluesbaby was right !!!!! TONIGHTS GONNA SUCK ----- BOY, DID IT EVER !!!!!

alright, one other thought, you know that sign that was being thrown down the street with such force ? well, i know thats gotta weigh, what, at least 50 lbs, right ? maybe more, and it was like a piece of paper out there. so, imagine if i had walked outside in the middle of that shit, with my daughter that weighs only about 45 lbs. now THAT is some scary shit !!!

nakedpianoplayer said:

don't forget, you rent. You don't have to pay for the trees. Your car on the other hand

I am so sorry! That was a shock even to read last night! Do you have some family or I am sure even the neighbors will help you with the trees! Have a better day!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

yeah, i do girl thank you so much, your very sweet, and as bluesbaby pointed out, i may not have to worry about cleaning it up -- since i am renting, its not really my property. lets hope

nakedpianoplayer said:

you might have to help clean it up, though

NPP...dear..I am sending you my thoughts and prayers.

the guys that were here BRIGHT and early in the morning, waking us all up said it only seemed to effect about 2 or 3 blocks. my street being in the middle, and only about the length of a block and a half., they were sent from the city, and since all the trees that fell were on my property, i guess that means i have to pay to have it done

oh, but, i guess since i have never won anything in life, i did win this, because, the man said, DAMN !!! your house got it REAL BAD !!!!! he goes.....your car is fucked up !!! isnt life wonderful ??

nakedpianoplayer said:

glad you're all ok sorry about george

i have no idea what you'd get from a salvage yard. do you have insurance?

George

I'm so glad that George was the only casualty! I was worried that all that nasty weather in the Midwest would eventually end up on your doorstep. Thank God that you and the lil nippers are okay!

Wow, that's freakin' scary! I'm glad no one was hurt!

LittlePill said:

thanks babe, was your area hit hard ? it went through you guys before it got to us

nakedpianoplayer said:

It hit us on the south and east side, mostly hail. I live on the west side of town and we got nothing, thank God!