The storms are coming. That's my morning thought as I step out into the prairie that meanders down the hill from the house where my friends and I are hanging out.
(not prairie flowers, but so lovely nonetheless...)
Full force, tonight. The weather report calls for strong winds, strong tornadoes too. It's a rare bad weather event for our corner of the state. And it hangs over the day because it does impact our activities. And because I am known among family and friends as a weather person (I study meteorological maps like some people study the stock market), we talk about weather strategies over breakfast.
For example, if tonight's tornadoes come at us from the southwest, where should we hide out? Which corner of the lower level is best? Should we put away the car and the outdoor furniture? (Hail and winds are good for neither.) Diane, who lives in the path of destructive hurricanes (by the coast in Florida) is more like Ed: a good Wisconsin storm can be beautiful to watch. Barbara, who lives in New Mexico, is also no stranger to strong winds. Both have lived their youthful lives in the Midwest and as we finish up our morning coffee, we recall storms we have lived through in Madison. (There were not very many notable ones, thank goodness!)
And then we hit the puzzle. The clock is ticking! Finish it tonight or put it away!
Puzzle with pauses. For example, to go out to Verona for food. There's a pizza place there -- Sugar River Pizza -- and we're thinking splitting some pies between now and dinner (i.e. bringing home the leftovers) is a good idea.
And then it's back to the Prairie House...
(Prairie House: before damaging winds, tornadoes, and hail come at us tonight)
... where I deal with the endless stream of phone calls with discussions and dissatisfactions (not mine!) surrounding my mother's care.
And we talk about the weather. Of course we do. When you read that severe tornadoes are coming your way you take note... Or, I take note.
Should we leave this house on the hill? In the middle of nowhere? Should we be happy with the one flashlight we find by the door? Should we drive into town and hunker down for the two hour duration of the passing of the storm system?
And importantly, shouldn't I post before our power goes up and away, with the spinning house that winds up in Kansas as we stay behind?
Certainly that. So here it is -- my post for the day. Tomorrow, I'll tell you if we survived the storms. And if we watched the rains come down and the clouds swirl, or if we locked ourselves in the basement. And most importantly -- if we walked out unscathed with nary a scratch!
Until then, with so much love...
