ARCHIVES - 1996 to FOREVER

I well remember that day and the weeks that followed.

I spent the night at the hospital, holding flashlights for surgeons and just doing whatever was necessary.... we didn't take too many x-rays, most of the injuries were cuts with very few fractures... and most of the fractures were done after the tornado, with people trying to get out of wrecked houses. Lots of broken ankles the next few days.

I was at home with Mom, she had set up a date for me, one of the girls that she worked with was coming over to play scrabble. However, the girl was no adventuress... she didn't want to get out when it was looking like it was gonna storm.

So when the sirens sounded, I got mom and my upstairs landlady and her grown daughter and my decrepit old dog into the basement... and then I went upstairs to se what I could see.

And it was strange... weird roaring sound, unforgettable.

And I looked to the south and I saw stuff moving above the tree-tops. And I kept looking up, and further up... and there were pieces of stuff directly overhead. I was so busy looking up that I fell flat on my back in the grass.

And I lay there for probably five seconds, wondering if I was gonna be able to get up.

And I was, finally, and I was in the basement in a flash, under the table with everyone else.

We waited ten or fifteen minutes before we came out, and the tornado had probably just about cleared the Oakland area at that time.

The northern edge of the tornado passed about a half-mile from the house and we felt very lucky. And then I drove to the hospital and waited for the victims to start showing up and I stayed until almost dawn, then I decided to drive over to my friend Ginnys' house... which was totally wrecked, but they were all safe.

I have lots more memories of the following days, too many to say here, I haven't the energy.

There was a nice show on the local PBS station, though... Karen's taping it for me and I'll watch it later.

I hit the snoozebar way too many times this morning, and wound up being a half-hour late for work, dammit. Of course, another night of poor sleep.

And I was in the room today, and it was fun, as usual.

I still love my work, yes I do.

And tonight I fiddled around in the shop some and figgered out how to fold the bandsaw blade... I knew the technique, but a 3/4" blade is harder to handle, it doesn't really want to bend that way. But it's done now, and I'm gonna get Karen to mail them back tomorrow.

And I talked to brother Dan tonight, he sounded pretty good... wanted to know more about Tyler. And I tried to call Tyler, but had to leave him a message and he hasn't called back yet.