While Zak is out working hard I had envisioned long days sitting on the deck reading a book, taking Belen to the park and watching her play, and swimming in the pool to keep cool...but lo, much like the rest of the U.S. we have yet to see much of this so-called-summer....We have already had our first round of tornados, though. Last Thursday (May 1st) an EF3 tornado ripped through Gladstone, Missouri (less than 10 minutes away) at 2 a.m. The sirens should have gone off here but they didn't. Apparently there wasn't time. But for some strange reason, after two tornado warnings earlier in the evening my senses were alert and I woke up hearing the wind, rain, and hail against the window of our bedroom. Then the power went out revealing a surreal looking almost swirling light as lightening was hitting with such regular frequency it seemed as though the tornado must have been right outside our apartment. I woke up Zak and got Belen from her room and we sat in the bathtub (for the third time in 7 hours) until we could hear the wind and rain lessen outside (about 10 minutes). I've never lived in an area before where the forecast for thunderstorms brings with it an unspoken understanding regarding the likelihood of, not 'A' but several tornados. No, the forecast I am more accustomed to hearing is maybe "scattered showers," not "scattered tornados." Any advice seasoned mid-westerners out there might be able to hand on over would be greatly appreciated. Until then we will be "braving" the summer storms and waiting for the sun!
