Seeking Shelter!

Let me tell you, Broken Arrow means business when there are storms. We were woke up by the blaring sirens late late last night. Rest assured with those ferocious sirens, we will be aware of impending storms.

As the storms approached, we decided to go ahead and get Parker and Jessalyn into the closet just in case it went from bad to worse quickly. Being five and seven, getting them woke up and transported across the house is quite heavy duty work. Parker never flinched. Once in the closet, Jessalyn, eyes squinted in the light, sleepily asked, where are we? We are in the closet, I said, there is a tornado. Undaunted, she replied a groggy OK, rolled over on the closet floor and when back to sleep.

Growing up in the country with a dad who loved to watch storms and tornadoes, rarely do I get worried enough to actually seek shelter. I like to see it for myself and make my own decision regarding the severity of the storm. Only a handful of times do I remember heading to the cellar in my 20 years on the farm. And only one time do I remember my dad taking shelter.

However, last night, since it was dark and my dad substitute Dick Farout was telling us to take shelter and with the appearance of ominous "power flashes" (the true sign of night time tornadoes), Devon and I joined the kids in the closet.

Now this is a site. We are in Parker's closet, since it is the most central interior space. Jessalyn is curled up in the corner with an assortment of pillows. I'm in the opposing corner with Parker snugly asleep in my lap. Devon is perched against the opposing wall armed with a cell phone and flashlight. We have a large comforter covering us all. Let me remind you this space is only approximately 8 or 9 square feet, and you know we are not little people.

The storm passed safely over us without much commotion and we all spilled out of the closet. If someone could have seen us emerge, I'm certain there would have been a lot of laughter. Devon thinking he had be sitting on one of our feet was enlightened that he actually had a Nerf football wedged in his backside. My feet fell asleep from having Parker in my lap, so I'm tripping and stumbling around. Parker is upright but still asleep trying to drag his four pillows with him to his bed. Jessalyn is still stunned trying to figure out why we are in the closet.

Thankfully, the storm damage was limited to broken tree limbs and some scattered damage around our area, nothing too severe. Nothing like living in tornado alley, to make an anniversary night quite memorable!