Tornado

I felt the storm before I saw it. The humidity made the hairs on my arms prickle and gave me the impression that I was walking in an oven. Walking outdoors with my friend, I saw massive black clouds run across the horizon. We looked at each other knowingly; each of us felt that there was no chance of us getting to the safety of our dorms before the downpour. Cradling our music folders and holding up the skirts we were wearing for the recital that had just ended, we booked it towards the quads. But rolling thunder told us we were too late. Rain poured on our heads and we squealed with a combination of delight and irritation. Slipping and sliding through the grass, we made our way to shelter.

It rained on and off for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Hail and freezing rain assaulted the ground and anyone that separated the two. The wind picked up and tornado warnings could be faintly heard over the whistles of passing trains. Brave college students subtly sat together in common areas, acting unconcerned; though their eyes revealed otherwise. When the building across the courtyard became visible through the downpour some of us, myself included, went and danced in the pounding rain. After a few moments, we eagerly returned to the warmth and shelter of our dorm rooms.

Later that night, I turned on my computer and went online to check e-mail. The moment I did my homepage (The New York Times) showed images of horrific destruction in Joplin, Missouri.  The headline declared that the city was fairly destroyed and that many had already lost their lives. As of this morning’s articles, at least one hundred and twenty-two people were in that count. I look back at my carefree rain-dancing and am grateful that my friends and loved ones back home and here in Galesburg escaped such a disaster. Though this week is not out, and bad weather may still strike, I thank God that those of us laughing at the potential of a tornado were spared. My heart and prayers go out to all of those whose lives were lost or altered because of such horrible happenings.