We've had an awfully dry year, so seeing spring storm clouds like pictured above from a couple of years ago hasn't really happened around here yet. I know other parts of the country have had their share of rough storms and tornadoes already this spring.
Last night for church we discussed "icebreakers," and how to get to know people, start conversations, etc. Our pastor passed around a couple sacks of M & M's, we each took what we wanted to eat. But he had us pick out 5, then for each one, we'd answer a question.
1. Favorite food.
2. Something that happened to you today.
3. Something you're afraid of.
4. Favorite hobby.
5. Something you're good at.
It was fun and interesting to go around and hear everyone's answers. About things people were afraid of, I think the top answer was snakes (one lady had a really good story about that!), plus spiders and other varmints. But I mentioned tornadoes, and another lady said storms.
Now, I'm a bona fide "weather nut." I've always liked looking at the sky and the clouds. But when I was little, storms SCARED ME SILLY. Especially if a storm would come through in the night, I was terrified. Dad had a really tall TV antenna in our back yard (he was the local TV man), and I know lightning just loved to hit that thing. But the lightning would *FLASH!* and the thunder would *BOOM!*, and I'd yank the covers over my head. I'd also stick my fingers in my ears as hard as I could. It's a wonder I didn't shove my eardrums into my brain, I pushed so hard!
But I eventually outgrew that night-time storm fear.
But I still hated tornadoes.
There was a fence across the road west from our house, and it sloped up towards the south just a bit. If storm clouds were moving in, my overactive imagination saw those fenceposts as tornadoes coming down out of the clouds, and THAT even scared me. If the clouds looked the least bit ragged, I'd whine and be afraid. But Dad would say, "If it's a tornado, you won't have to ask, you'll know it." But those jagged storm clouds still got to me.
As an adult, I'm kind of fascinated with storms and tornadoes, yet I still have a healthy fear (and preparedness to take cover) concerning severe weather. I won't mention being out at the golf course once with Dad, and it was cloudy with a little lightning going on, and some other people still wanted to go out in that and play golf! Not me, thanks, I'll stay in the club house. And I persuaded Dad to stay, too. I just can't see becoming a personal lightning rod with golf clubs in your hands and lightning dancing all around!
I still don't like loud booming storms in the middle of the night. I scooch a little closer to Dan and pad my ears with my pillow. LOL
ReplyDeleteTornadoes never really scared me that much until the GBURG storm. I knew they were dangerous, but was so used to them I didn't really think much about them.
However, that first siren that went off in town that year found me running to the basement with the hairs on my arms and neck standing straight up. I've settled down now, but take them pretty serious now.
I LOVE spring rains!! And even the thunder and lightening. .if the threat for tornadic activity is low :-) We could take some rain right about now!! Hope you all get some too.
ReplyDeleteI think that is one of the main reasons I live north, we don't get to many tornadoes and we are to far in the mountains to get major flooding and hurricanes!!! I think I will live where I am at ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't like tornadoes but am not too bothered by them. When I was little, about 10 or or, I was riding in a car with my Aunt Cleta and cousin Peggy. We were on a highway between Enid and Garber, it is so flat out there and you can see for miles. well, Peggy and I were watching a big tornado in the distance out the back car window. Aunt Cleta was not the least bit scared and told us not to worry about it.
ReplyDeleteThis was way before Gary England and his early warnings so who knows where that tornado was going.
Tornados remind me of Aunt Cleta and her advice to not worry.
we sure do need some rain, though, don't we?
I hope you make it through storm season without many scary times.
Becky - I hear you, and the Greensburg tornado really "upped" my sensitivity to storms and tornadoes, too.
ReplyDeleteMelanie - we are needing rain so badly! Pray, pray, pray.
Lisa - sounds like you've got an almost "ideal" place. :) I'm usually glad to not live near hurricanes or earthquakes. Though we have had after-effects of hurricanes before - when they come up through Texas and give us a good rain.
Rhonda - wow that would be *exciting* (horrifying?) to watch a tornado like that! My husband grew up here and remembers Gary England from when he was a kid. :) Seems like so far, all the storminess has been in the southeast part of the country. I remember a year or two ago, June had NO tornadoes reported, and that was like a "first."