Tornado

[Patti]

Yesterday there was a tornado that touched down in a town I lived in when I was a kid. I moved there the summer when I was between 1st and 2nd grade, and lived there until about the end of 7th grade. I remember being evacuated so many times and usually we would go to the basement of the
Catholic church and wait out the storm. I never saw a tornado. Yesterday on the weather channel, I saw that the town got hit bad. Last I heard, they said that a two year old was killed and there were still 20 some people unaccounted for. It was a small town when I lived there, there were 2 classrooms of kids my age.

[Nightingale]

That's really sad to hear Patti.

I would imagine that it brought back a lot of memories for you when you saw the news.

It sure seems our weather has gotten more severe over the years. It's heartbreaking when you see how many people throughout the world are suffering through one catastrophic happening after another.

We haven't had to deal with a tornado yet this season but we probably will before it's over.
They scare me....

[Patti]

It is bringing back memories of people I knew. I spent a lot of time in the classroom and playground, etc. with many of them. Those are some important years. I'm sure it has affected the lives somehow of some of them. I kept in contact with a few people for a while after I moved, but don't know any of them anymore. Sometimes I wish I did, but I suppose that happens when people move.

It does seem like there are more weather related catastrphes happening more and more. Is it getting worse all over the planet? When I first heard that severe weather warning for this area, I really was hoping that we would just get some rain and I was actually a little afraid of a possible tornado. This was the first time I heard of something like that happening in one of the places where I grew up.

[Nightingale]

Hi Patti,

I was thinking of you today as I watched more news about this tornado and the destruction it caused...it really stayed on the ground a long time!

I hope things look up soon for all the people that were hit by this storm. It sure looks as though it's going to take a long time to put things right and rebuild the towns.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know someone was thinkng of you and hoping you feel a little better.
It's a sad time when your childhood memories get tossed around like that.

[Patti]

Besides tornado warning memories, I'd like to share another memory clip from childhood. One spring I attended a safety patrol picnic. There were children from many schools in the surrounding area. We played games and there were prize drawings. My friend, Ava was standing next to me as they were drawing names for prizes, starting with the smallest prize. I happened to win the girl's grand prize which was a bicycle. Ava was so happy for me. The bike was a lavender color and had high rise handlebars and a banana seat. The teachers let me ride it in the hallways of the school that day.

A friend named Patty from our school had also won a nice prize. It was a radio. The best recess I remember was when Patty brought her radio to school and the two of us listened to it out on the playground one beautiful day. I remember how her eyes were lit up. She was so happy. Later that summer upon returning home from vacationing at my maternal Grandparents home on Madeline Island, I learned that Patty had been killed in an accident when she had fallen off a horse and her lungs collapsed. I'll see her again in heaven.

[Patti]

Childhood memories, we all have them. Good and bad. That time about Ava, not only was she happy for me, but somehow she knew I would win that.(?) She said to me before I won that she just knew I was going to win that. ... hmm,... I hope she wins a car.

About Patty and I listening to the radio, it was such a beautiful time and angels must have made that happen and my memory of that time is so clear and it still makes me feel like something special was happening when I think of that day. That radio ... it's not just the radio that was special. Patty and I, we were 'winners'. One thing I wonder about a little is this place ... some of the people I feel are sort of there for me, because I never told anyone about our radio recess. I didn't write it so anyone would feel sorry for me, but just to share something that was on my mind. I'll never lose a real friend.

[Nightingale]

That's such a nice memory that you have of your friend that died.
It seems as though the smallest of things can make us so happy when we are young.
Maybe that's why we are told to have the "eyes of a child" when we are searching for our faith.

It's hard for us to understand about death when we are that young...well, it's hard even now that we are older but that's another thought all together.
It must have been hard on you to find out about her and realize that death can take anybody at any age. I know that freaked me out big time when I realized that part of it.

It's not about feeling sorry for you and your losses as a child...we all suffered in one way or another with something.
It's more about sharing your memory and knowing you better as a person.
It makes us all more real to one another when we share our personal history.
Some people do that, some don't, but either way it makes us more human and more understandable to one another.

Yes, it's great to feel like a winner when your a kid.

[timetraveler]

I know that it was a terrible experience, the tornado & it's aftermath. I live in the middle of what they call Tornado Alley & it's a scary situation. There are some folks who think that my mum is just plain silly when she starts piling pillows & blankets galore in the hall whenever the warnings go off, but I'd call it good common sense.

[Nightingale]

Hi Timetraveler,
No, it's not silly to get prepared for a tornado...it's smart.
They really have been bad this year and it's been nerve wracking for all of us that live in areas that are deemed "tornado alley".

My sister grabs all of her animals and throws them in the bathrub and puts a matress over them when there are tornado warnings.
She insists her cats are afraid of storms but I think they just don't like to be trapped in the bathtub with a crazy woman...lol.

Anyway, take care.

[timetraveler]

I must confess to being almost as crazy as she when it comes to the safety of the ones I love too. Truth is, I get terribly restless & irritable whenever the weather gets nasty & I don't settle down until all my animals are in & I'm certain that any humans that aren't at home are in a safe place.

[Patti]

One time we were getting some bad winds and the dog was starting to cry because she saw out the window that there were branches landing outside in the yard and in the driveway. I layed across her and she calmed right down, but I was feeling like the roof might blow off.

[Nightingale]

Yes, it's a bad feeling when anything or anyone you love is out of range when something bad happens. I laugh at her but I now she means well with her kitties...she loves them so it's a good thing.

Patti, my dog is terrified of storms. I am often up all night with her when the weather is bad...she won't settle down till it's over and she gets really nervous.

I don't like tornadoes but I do like storms. I love the power in them and the sound of the wind howling.
I have no idea why, but I have always slept better when it's raining than any other time...just love the sound of it hitting the windows and roof.

[Patti]

Most of my life, I've loved the thunder, but once in a while now I get to feeling a little frightened. I lived out west a few years, and they hardly ever got a thunder storm. I missed it...

It does sound a little funny about your sister and even though, it's good she is keeping them safe. They might get even more scared thinking they are going to get a bath. Poor kittys. ... Can you imagine? ... bathing with cats! Yikes!

[Nightingale]

Well, I have a friend that gives her 6 cats a bath all the time...at least once a week!

Oh my gosh...My cats would flay the skin right off of me if I did that....lol.
I have given very old cats or sick cats baths but they did okay because they were too weak to fight. Kittens sometimes need flea baths (wild kitties) and that isn't much fun...lol.

My dog loves to take a bath, thank goodness! I would hate to have to fight with her

[Patti]

That's pretty funny, your friend giving her 6 cats a bath at least once a week.

What kind of dog do you have, moonchild?

[Nightingale]

Hi Patti,

Pepper is a Black Lab...sweetest dog ever!

She is a rescue that I got almost 13 years ago. We don't have an animal shelter so the highway department takes strays and keeps them. If someone doesn't claim them within a week, they are put down. I know, it's awful but we are getting a new humane society(hopefully) soon.
Anyway, she had puppies and someone dumped her and the babies....they had her picture in the paper and people called and took the puppies but nobody wanted her.
When I got there she jumped in my car and has been my best buddy ever since.....lol.

[Jesse Joe]

That's a beautiful story Anne, thanks for sharing it.

When I got there she jumped in my car and has been my best buddy ever since.....lol.


Good for you Nightingale !

[Cathy]

Years ago I had a cat that went visiting in the neighbor's barn, and came back covered with fleas. So, I put on a pair of protective gloves, filled the tub, and attempted to put her in the water for a flea dip. I had an awful time getting her in there. She kept bracing her feet and flopping back and forth, all the while meowing what sounded like, "Oh, God... oh, God!" I asked my husband what she was saying. He replied, "Oh, God!?

[Nightingale]

You know what, Jesse?
Most of my life my best friends have been animals
Maybe I should become a pet psychic?

Hi Cathy,
That's really funny about your cat. I have never had a cat that didn't howl it's head off when faced with bath time...lol

My nephew has two cats and two kids. The ginger male cat , Scotchie, screams and howls at his wife and it sounds like he is yelling "mom" just like the kids do....it's really weird....lol.