This New Year's Eve was the most terrifying experience of my entire life. All last week the temperature was down in the 20s and 30s. However, on New Year's Eve, the temperature was 70 degrees. Well, you know what that means. That means it's just perfect conditions for tornados and boy did we have some of those bastards.

It was around 5:15 p.m. as I was sitting in my apartment watching my DVDs of "Too Close For Comfort" that I had just received from Amazon when I heard sirens going off. I knew something was wrong so I turned off the DVD player and turned on the TV. There were tornado warnings galore. They were all over the place. There was one in Byram headed toward south Jackson and there was another one on Interstate 20 East by the stack which is about 2 or 3 miles from my apartment headed straight towards me at 75 miles per hour. Then the news said there was funnel activity forming on Pearson Road in Pearl. Pearl is a suburb town right on the other side of the Pearl River from Jackson which is where I live and I live off of Pearson Road.

I began to panic because this was heading straight towards me. I was scared as hell. I picked up my phone and began dialing the number of my mother. Then I remembered that she died back in 2007. That's how out of it I was. I wanted to call my brother and one my sisters but I had their numbers upstairs (they have cell phones and they change cell phone numbers more than they change their underwear) and the news kept saying to stay on the ground floor so I was scared to go upstairs. I know they couldn't do anything but I just wanted to hear a voice of someone I love. I just knew I was going to die and I didn't want to die alone. I at least wanted a voice from someone I loved to comfort me as I left this world.

Immediately, and I do mean immediately, after the news reported funnel activity forming up the street from me (well, long enough for me to start dialing phone numbers), the power went out and the sirens were just a'blowin' loud as hell and full force. The rain was coming down hard and the wind blowing the hell out of the place. I was in the pitch black dark and completely cut off from the outside world as far as updates and information on the tornados were concerned. I was scared as hell and didn't know what to do. The only place I knew to go was in the kitchen and I sat in the floor in front of the kitchen sink. The way my apartment is laid out, there is really no safe place to go but I did feel a little bit protected by the oriental screen I have that separates my living room from my kitchen (at least to keep the glass away if the windows broke). But if the tornado hit, there's nothing I could do. I mean, I live in a townhouse apartment and you can hide under anything you want but the whole upper level above you might collapse on top of you with furniture and all.

All I could do is sit on the floor in front of the kitchen sink and rock backwards and forwards on the floor and pray and pray and pray and beg and plead with God to let this tornado pass over me and save my sorry hide. I was absolutely frantic and there was nothing I could do and no one that could help me. It was completely in God's hands as to whether I live or died. I have never been that scared in my entire life and I caught the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which was pretty scary but nothing compared to this. Was this how I was going to die, 43 years old, alone in an apartment on a kitchen floor? It was horrifying.

The rain stopped and everything was completely still. That scared the hell out of me even more because I've always heard that everything is completely still when the tornado gets ready to come. I waited and waited and waited for the tornado to come. My heart was pounding so hard it's a wonder if I didn't die from a heart attack. Then I heard voices outside. It was people from the apartment complex walking around outside with flashlights. The water in the ditch outside was at the very top and there were tree branches everywhere. As I opened my door and looked outside at my neighbors, I saw the piece of rough trade that I was involved with this past summer and fall and I thought to myself....."I wish the damn tornado had passed me over but got the building he's in and killed his ass". It was at that moment that I knew I was back to my old self and that everything was going to be alright.

Anyway, I know there are a lot of athiests on this site and that's cool. But I do believe there is a God because once again, he has showed me he's out there and he's looking out for me. He sure as hell saved me this time and I begged and pleaded. Honey, Andy don't beg nobody but I begged him.

Anyway, as thanks, my song of the day is "Say Amen" by the beautiful, sexy, gorgeous, hairy chested Mr. Howard Hewitt. Oh honey, sexiness like that is proof there is a God.

I wanna thank you God for giving me one more chance......

I'm not religious but I'm glad that you didn't die.

Amen2that!

[Edited 1/2/11 9:19am]

Your story really touched my heart.

I love reading your posts Andy and I'm glad you're still around.

I believe that everyone has an angel watching over them, yours was definately watching over you, Andy. Glad you're okay.

Wow. Glad you are alright and God saw you through.

I'm glad you're okay...

lyecry said:

Your story really touched my heart.

I'm so glad that you weren't hurt. It must had been terrifying with all of those thoughts going through your head like that and in complete darkness. That was nothing but God right there. Always keep the faith because he does COME at the most unthinkable times when you feel that you are out of options and creates miracles

[Edited 1/2/11 8:17am]

I'm glad you're ok!

first tornado, I take it?

As I opened my door and looked outside at my neighbors, I saw the piece of rough trade that I was involved with this past summer and fall and I thought to myself....."I wish the damn tornado had passed me over but got the building he's in and killed his ass".

Oh well, then. You ain't THAT traumatic by the experience because you would've been glad to see that trade in one piece.

Seriously though Andy, it wasn't your time and I'm SO glad about it too because even though we haven't met, I feel like I know you on a personal level. Oh yeah, and this is a god believer speaking so you know, I share with you that sentiment as well.

Happy new year baby I bet you can't say this year hasn't started without a bang

Awww, thank God you're okay sweetie...what a fright!

Next time get yourself into the closet (no pun) or get into the tub if there's a bathroom downstairs and drag a mattress on top of you. Or any downstairs room without windows or an interior hallway.

I'm assuming you're too big to fit into the kitchen cabinet. I hope you called your sister after it was over.

Wow,that sounds scary,Andy! I'm glad everything turned out OK for ya.

God bless you Andy, glad you're okay. Sounds like a very close call.

minneapolisFunq said:

But seriously, there's gotta be a better place for you to run to when a tornado comes through.

Glad you made it through Andy and I love "Say Amen" beautiful song Now back to those Too Close For Comfort dvd's

Are you sure this isn't your song of the day year?

Glad you're ok!

Moonbeam said:

Are you sure this isn't your song of the day year?

Glad you're ok!

Andy ain't here yet but if he was, he'll give you one of these:

Glad you are ok! What would the org be without my Andy?

Timmy84 said:

Moonbeam said:

Are you sure this isn't your song of the day year?

Glad you're ok!

Andy ain't here yet but if he was, he'll give you one of these:

on a side note, I had no idea what this song was about, until recently.

Moonbeam said:

Are you sure this isn't your song of the day year?

Glad you're ok!

You're asking for an online beatdown.

Good to read you came out of it okay Would it be possible for you to have a safety-basement constructed under your groundfloor ?

Wow. I'm very relieved that you survived that nightmarish experience. I can only imagine how scared you were about the tornado barrelling through the city . Whether you're a believer in God or not, deep down inside, no one wants to be alone when death feels imminent.

Thank y'all. The only reason I can't see this movie theater from my apartment window is because the view is blocked by some surrounding hotels. That's how close I was to the tornado....