Everybody in Texas seems to have a tornado story. They've either been in one, seen one, or know someone who has. I haven't had the terrifying experience of actually being in a tornado, but as a kid I came close enough.
Grandpa and Grandma Irwin were visiting from central Texas, and when the weather turned bad and the wind got up, Grandpa insisted on piling everyone in the car and getting out, not realizing that being in a car is the worst place you can be in a tornado. He had been in a tornado once and he didn't intend to repeat the experience.
Our little house in the country didn't have a garage, so we had to brave the wind and rain to get to the car. It's a pretty frightening thing to be six years old and barely able to walk in the wind. Fortunately I hadn't read The Wizard of Oz yet.
Daddy drove all of us--mama, us four kids, one an infant, and Grandma and Grandpa to Tyler where we parked on the downtown square and waited for the storm to pass, two adults and two children in the front, and two adults and two children in the back. No carseats or seatbelt laws back then! When Daddy and Grandpa agreed it was safe to return, we drove home, no doubt happy to see everything still in its place.
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| Grandpa and Grandma Irwin |
I grew up convinced that a tornado had been nearby as we ran to the car that night. My parents believed there was. This was back in the day when there was no such thing as Doppler radar or today's sophisticated weather technology.
I've never been one to take tornado watches and warnings with a shrug. I have a "windowless interior room" that I retreat to with the dog, (hubby wouldn't go in there unless he heard it coming!) and if I'm out and about I find shelter. No close personal encounters for me, no thank you.
What about you? Have you had an experience with a tornado? Check out Keeper II: The Storm for Jolie's terrifying encounter!
XOXOLabels: 1960's, April Nunn Coker, Keeper II The Storm, The Wizard of Oz, tornado, tornado warning
