Tornadic Activity

Here in Tennessee we have a phenomenon known as "tornadic activity". It's a term that may be in use everywhere, but I never heard it until I moved here. It's usual use is before two other phrases. The first, "tornado watch" means exactly what it sounds like. "Watch out there may be tornadoes out there somewhere. The second "tornado warning" can be loosely translated as "duck" or "hit the dirt". It usually indicates an actual tornado is stalking the local trail park.

The phrase "tornado warning" is only personally applicable if you actually hear it. It is usually accompanied by an earsplitting siren, which again, must be heard to be appreciated. Sometimes it's followed by your wife's voice stating "That tree is swaying dangerously". Since this is the SECOND tornado the wife has experienced since we arrived in the Volunteer State, she knows a thing or two. You would think I would learn to listen when she has an intuition about such things. A more reasonable person probably would have. situation. What did I do?

Roll over and go back to sleep, of course.

So the next day one wakes up to find said twister (or twisters) has missed your master bathroom by a scant yard or so and shattered the swaying cedar tree in your back yard into three parts...

Too Close for Comfort

Cedar Shattered Into Three Pieces

You notice that your cell phone has four text messages time stamped for 3:00 am or so declaring you're just about doomed and you should kiss your ass goodbye.

Sound Asleep

As you drive through the neighborhood you notice an unusual number of blue tarps covering various roofs on the houses. Along the main road you may encounter a couple of utility poles snapped in half. Oh yeah, let's not forget the Dollar General store that no longer exists...

As a consequence, your hobbies take a brief respite as you haul out the chainsaw (or two) and proceed to fill your back yard with branches and pieces of tree trunk and/or trunks. It takes a day or so to cut up a 60 foot cedar tree. It takes a lot longer to get the local municipality to come and grind up said branches and pieces of trunk and/or trunks...

Two Hours Into It Before the Electric...

...Chainsaw Buys the Farm.

You find yourself VERY grateful all you lost was a nuisance tree you wanted cut down anyway. You feel really blessed that you and yours are still around to clean up the mess and the roof still keeps the rain off your head. You also realize more that any other time that things like model trains are easily replaced, but your loved ones could be gone forever.

Regards,
Frank Musick
A Very Grateful Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

Allegheny Eastern Railroad