Didn't I Say "ENOUGH ALREADY" Loud Enough??

Well, for the 3rd time in 2 weeks, the tornado sirens made their appearance last night. It was about 6:15 and I had been watching the TV with the up to date weather radar and knew that we were about to get hit by a storm. I glanced out the window and saw that the sky was getting dark so I was just in the process of shutting down the computer when the power went out. By the time I got downstairs, Mr. Snowbird and Bill (the guy who lives with us) were standing at the front windows watching the rain blowing sideways. It looked like a blizzard--everything was white. Apparently the wind was causing this. By the time I grabbed the radio and a flashlight, it had quit. Only then, did the sirens start. While listening to the radio, the news director, Tom Sheldon (remember him Karen?) said that the warning was for NE Hancock County. This is the same area that was being hit for the third time. I debated about going to the basement but by this time, the sky was brightening up and the sun was peeking out in the west. So, like all of our neighbors, I went out on the porch. A fire truck headed down the street just a block away and a few minutes later, another drove by the house. It soon parked down at the end of the street near Main Street. And, of course, the sirens are on for 3 minutes and off for 2 and on for 3--well, you get the idea. I sincerely doubt that anyone had headed to the basement.

I did see a few branches down in our back yard and a big branch on the back of the garage next door. We have a HUGE Maple tree in our back yard which if it ever decides to give up the ghost will wipe out half the neighborhood!!! Last Friday a tree came down on a house on Main Street just a couple of blocks away. And from pictures in the Courier this AM, other trees came down on houses not to far away from us. But, our trusty maple weathered the storm yet again. Hang in there buddy, I'm rooting for you!

Once the sirens stopped, I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I did see that a tree had come down on wires at the end of our street--where the fire engine had stopped. This apparently was the reason the half of our end of town was without power. Lots of branches down but no serious damage that I could see. But, from the way the rain looked earlier--going sideways--I can understand why there were branches and power lines down.

Our power finally came back on about 9:00. Better than our friends in Bowling Green who were without power for 20 hours last Friday and Saturday. We had another storm hit about 1:00 this morning but that seemed to be mostly lightning and not much wind. I guess there were a couple of "unofficial" sightings of a tornado or two in the area but no touchdowns.

What I realized though was that when people don't have TV or AC to rely on, they gather out on their front porch and actually talk to their neighbors. I guess I kind of understand now why back in the "good old days" people were a lot friendlier, more neighborly, and a whole lot more trusting.

Anyway, as I said before--Mother Nature, give it a break already. I think the whole country is beginning to feel this way. Geez, I don't even want to think what Hurricane season is going to be like.