4.16.2012

What Happened This Weekend: {Tornadoes}

I struggle to even write this post. As you can imagine. Our weekend, here in the Midwest, was eventful, to say the least. I've honestly never been so happy to see a Monday.

Luckily, we didn't see the worst of it where I am. And I continually pray for those in Woodward, OK and in Kansas and Iowa and Nebraska.

To even share my individual experience seems petty. Minuscule.

Friday afternoon I head out of work at 3:30, which is my normal quitting time. Mike calls to say that they let him out of work early because of the weather so he's going to stop on his way to fill up on gas, and then he'll be home. My drive home was easy, maybe a little more traffic than normal. The radio broadcasters played music and promised that if the weather got serious, they would switch to wall-to-wall tornado coverage. I got home and pulled my car in the garage, which I don't normally do. I came inside, hit the power button on the TV and went to open the blinds while simultaneously dialing my mom.

The TV blares.

"Tornado warning, there is a tornado on the ground!"

PANIC MODE.

Instead of calling my mom, I call Mike.

"Where are you?"
"There is a tornado coming."
"I can't believe you aren't here with me."
The tornado sirens go off.
"I can't believe I am here alone."
I turn up the TV and run to the closet and lay on the floor.
"I can't believe this."
"Where are you now?"

Mike simultaneously saying,
"Are you okay?"
"Where is the tornado?"
"Abby, you need to talk to me!"
"Traffic is at a standstill, I'm not going anywhere."
"Where is the tornado now?!"

All while I'm trying to listen to the TV to hear where the tornado is.

4 miles away.
3 miles away.

"I can't believe you aren't here with me!"

"Abby, you have to talk to me, where is the tornado now?"

The tornado hits 2 miles from our house.



{Tornado from our backyard, my neighbor took this picture...remember...I was laying on my closet floor}

Luckily, only an EF2.

Photobucket

If Mike hadn't of stopped for gas, its a high possibility that he would have been on the freeway at the same time the tornado was on the freeway.

We were definitely being looked out for.

I hate the Midwest.

When Mike got home, he was barely through the door before he had me in his arms. "I love you. You were so brave."
He has a way of making things better. Swoon.

We packed a bag. We had to be ready to get the heck out of here if we needed to. Fortunately, we never had to use the bag.



But the entire weekend, we were on edge. Family and friends called and texted.

Thank you for your love. We appreciated every single person that was looking out for us.

You know I used to consider Friday the 13th as lucky? My first date with Mike was on Friday the 13th.
I'm not so sure about the whole "lucky" part anymore.

27 days until I leave the Midwest. And heaven help me, I'm never coming back.

6 comments :

  1. I'm so glad you're ok. That is scary.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is SO so scary!! You're definitely brave. I'm glad you guys are ok!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. :( Never coming back.. I don't like the sound of that. Who will I run and knock on the door to show my awesome picture too!?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Umm, that gave me chills just reading about it. I can't imagine actually experiencing it. I can't wait until you're back in Utah!

    ReplyDelete
  5. that is so scary! i am glad you guys are prepared though. we need to get on that! glad you two are ok!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just stumbled across your blog, and totally relate to one of the first posts I read! I'm from Oklahoma, and now live in Dallas, so I totally understand the panic a nearby tornado can cause. You were super brave! I was in a similar situation a couple years ago when I was in college at OSU...I drove to my then-boyfriend's (now husband) house to meet friends to take cover from an approaching storm....and no one made it to the house before the sirens went off but me. They all took cover other places. It was just me and his roommate's tiny dog hiding in a closet (because I couldn't pull the basement door open fast enough). Absolutely terrifying! So I totally understand the sentiment of never wanting to come back. Unfortunately this is home for me, so looks like I'll be staying :) But I'm glad you were safe!

    ReplyDelete