Scared

(This was actually written yesterday, but I didn't get a chance to publish it until now)

As many people know, last night was a night of severe tornadoes to go through the south. People in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky were either killed or wounded in the 50+ tornadoes that touched down.

I had been watching coverage of the Super Tuesday Primary results on CNN and had seen the reports of the storms. I knew they were heading in my general direction of Kentucky, so I was keeping an eye out periodically on the local stations and kept a watch out the window to see what was going on.

Just before midnight there was a very strong, windy storm that came through. We were under a tornado watch at that point, so we all went to the basement and bunkered down until it passed over. Meanwhile, I was doing a lot of praying for us to be safe.

After about thirty minutes, everything had calmed down. The storm had passed. We came back up from the basement. Mom and Dad went to bed and I resumed my watching the coverage of the primary results. I continued to keep an eye out on the weather, but everything seemed to be fine.

A couple of hours later, I began hearing the thunder rumble off in the distance again. I didn't think much of it though because it sounded a ways off and they still weren't showing anything on TV to be concerned about. I was relatively calm, actually. Then, I heard something scary. I muted the TV but I still couldn't tell for sure (I don't have the best of hearing), so I ran to the front door and opened it. Sure enough, the town sirens were going off. I ran back to my room and turned the TV back to the local station. There it was, a tornado warning for my county. There was rotation on the county line just to the west of us, and the path was headed straight for my town. I quickly grabbed my already prepared emergency backpack and rushed into my parent's bedroom to wake them up. Both of them jumped out of bed and we all ran back downstairs to the basement.

The TV in the basement lost satellite signal after a minute, as well as the radio, so we were completely freaked out. We had no idea what was going on. I had already seen some of the damage these storms had brought earlier in the night and I was just scared to death that that tornado was going to get us. Needless to really say, I was busy praying again for our safety.

After a moment, the satellite reacquired signal and the radio was back on. It had gone north of us, but just barely. And luckily, it had not touched down. I think all of us took a sigh of relief at that.

I went back upstairs and looked out the window. It was raining off and on and still lightning all over the place, but the wind had calmed down. The TV was showing us still under a warning, but no rotation was directly over us. A couple of minutes later we were back under a watch and it was over.

I thanked God.

Now, I'll admit that I usually like storms, but not this sort. I like the sound of gentle thunder or the soft rain, but last night, I was just scared. There was nothing enjoyable about that. Nor was there anything enjoyable about it for those who were killed, wounded, lost loved ones, lost their homes and possessions, or are having to go about cleaning up and repairing all the damage. I saw some of the destruction at Union University in Jackson, TN. That seems to have been one of the areas of worst damage. The images of that school, it just looks like a bomb went off. It literally looks like the place was just blown apart. My heart truly goes out to all those affected in those storms. My prayers are with you.

I think I'm mellowing out a little more as I get older. I used to like scary movies and the adrenaline rush of being scared, but anymore... absolutely not. All those slasher flicks and the like, no, I can't stand to watch them anymore. And I wonder what I ever saw appealing about them. All they are are movies dedicated to glorifying serial killers who enjoy mutilating people. What's enjoyable about that? Life is scary enough without having to add on more fears, isn't it? I used to not think so, but now a day, sure. Sort of the same with that show Nip Tuck. I used to really like that show during it's first two or three seasons (don't ask me why—I think it was mostly due to its periodic soft-core porn), but I quit watching it because all it was ever about was people ruining their lives and hurting each other. I actually turned to watch part of a recent episode the other day and thought I was going to throw up. This woman just graphically killed this man while he was squirming around trying to get free from her. It was just awful. I literally almost threw up. I turned the channel and I certainly don't ever plan on watching that show ever again. What's good about it to make me want to watch? Nothing.

I'm glad there wasn't more people killed or injured last night. I wish none of them had been. I can't imagine how scared they must have been, and frankly I hope I'll never have to go through that. I thank God for keeping us safe. Going to God was my only comfort. I know it would be so hard for me to go through anything like that without Him.

I don't think I'll be looking forward to any more storms for a while now. I think I certainly had my fill of being scared last night. I mean, it's winter for crying out loud! Shouldn't it be cold and snowing so we can go sledding, making snow angels, and building snowmen? We're not supposed be getting blown away in tornadoes during this time of the year.