My Sunday: A Two Part Story Part 2: Tornadoes

This Sunday wasn't really like any ordinary Sunday. You can read about the first, nice calm part here.

Throughout the day Matt and I had been bickering about absolutely nothing. Just one of those things when you live with someone. Well Matt decided to go run an errand. So did I. In a peace offering I went to the store and bought him some Ginger-ale and buffalo style Wheat Thins (don't ask). Well I got home and the weather was on TV. It was looking really bad out and I was surprised that Matt wasn't home. I couldn't call out for some reason. I went to step outside to try to get better reception and I heard the sirens going off for a tornado. Now, I've grown up in Oklahoma my whole life and I don't get shaken up about storms for the most part, but when Gary England tells you take take cover, you do it.

I kept trying to call Matt and I was so nervous he was going to get caught in the storm. I felt really badly that I had been ugly earlier. I was worried about Pistol because, well, he's our kid. So I ran into the guest bedroom and took the mattress off the bed. I tried to put it in the guest bathroom because there's windows in our bathroom. The angle would not allow me to put the mattress in the bathroom and I was thinking about how much Matt was going to laugh at me when he saw me trying 100 different angles to get get mattress in the bathroom.  So I decided that the laundry room was probably a better idea because it didn't face an exterior wall (but what if the garage door was ripped off??! I also took all the pillows (including the decorative ones) out of the other guest bedroom and put them in there. I tried to remove things that could fall on our head.

For some reason I could text Matt. So he tells me to go to the neighbor's house. I had no idea they even had a cellar. I text the neighbor and she says she isn't there but her husband is.  She tells me to go over.  He doesn't answer his phone but it is getting really REALLY scary. Like the news is saying names of streets that I know. And I know them to be close to my house. And then the satellite went out so I didn't know anything.  So I run through the house. I put on sweat pants that had pockets and begin to put in my family heirloom jewelry. I throw our wedding certificate, passports, and social security cards in a back pack along with my computer because my entire academic life is on there. I scoop up Pistol. Then like an idiot I grab Pistol's over night bag. All I really needed was his leash, but some how  I ended up with spare bowls, about a gazillion treats, and toys. I go outside and lock the front door (What if there are looters in the after math???). I run next door and he tells me to get in the cellar. I go down with Pistol in my arms and all my junk. Then I realize how TINY this cellar is. Family of 4? No problem. 7 people and 4 dogs? A little cramped. This 132 year old lady was pretty much sitting in my lap (with Pistol's over night bag under my feet).

We could see rotation above the house. Finally the neighbor closes the garage door. We listen. Sirens. Then Hail. REALLY loud hail. Then we could hear them dictating the events over the radio. Gary England had to tell the guy to calm down too many times for my liking. All I could do was pray and feel really bad that I was a snot to Matt earlier. I kept trying to get a text that I loved him and that we were in the cellar to go out. Finally we hear that it was moving away from us. After a little bit we get out.

I came home and tripped over my safe room.

Matt was home a few minutes later. He was in the Dillard's basement.  He had been shopping for my anniversary present like the good human that he is. Don't worry, I smoothed it over with the Ginger-ale. We hugged and were happy to know we were okay. I was still a little shaky.  That was a lot of responsibility. 

I also resented the excitement of the storm chaser. "Oh LOOK at the the devastation! Debris Everywhere!!" Hey bro, I could have been that debris. 

We got some hail dents in our grill and several flower fatalities. 

I am so grateful we are all okay. I feel horrible for the people who lost their homes. Yesterday was one of the very few reasons why Oklahoma isn't always a great place to live. But now it looks like Matt is going to win the conversation on installing a cellar. You win Matt. YOU WIN!

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