As many of you know, I am a paranoid parent. As many of you also know, we are getting ready to move to Alabama! I'm super excited about and totally fell in love with the area when I went to visit it. The people are amazing. The state is beautiful. There is so much to do there and it's a very family friendly state. I'm excited to go to the lakes, to see the science museum that Brock keeps talking about, to get Cole into football so he can go to college and play for the Tide. Now, I try to be a realist. What I'm not excited about.....the heat, the jokes I've already started to get from my family about moving to Alabama (thanks Dave) and the tornadoes.
My friends in Virginia, and the friends and family who heard about my antics, will remember when all of those tornadoes came through Virginia last year. I was freaking out. Anyone who mentioned the "T" word about got bitch slapped for scaring the crap out of me. I was constantly watching the sky. I asked everyone I talked to if they thought that was a wall cloud. At work, I had a quickest route to the walk-in mapped out in my head at all times. I didn't have the be the fastest there, but as long as my fat ass could squeeze in there, I'd be ok. I would have nightmares about it ripping the roof off of my home. I wanted the kids to sleep downstairs, and even went so far as to suggest that we all sleep in the bathroom that night.
I began to stockpile things in the bathroom. Pillows, blankets, a flashlight. Pretty basic things that sound completely normal right? Then I started to get a little carried away. I put a bra in there, because what if the tornado hit in the middle of the night and swept all my bras away? What am I suppose to do, walk around with my boobs flopping around until I find my bras in a tree somewhere? No thank you. I wanted to put some food in there, but Brock wouldn't let me. Of course not, because while I would be in the bathroom with the kids, his plan was to hide in the pantry. Logically, this makes sense, because if one of us was buried, the other one could get us out. I, however, was not being logical. I was being paranoid. Like I said, at least I own it.
Everyone is aware of the horrific tornadoes that have hit Alabama and the damage that they have done. Just early this morning, another tornado had gone through Alabama and did some damage to homes of Brock's friends. This just increases my anxiety about it. Just last night Brock and I were discussing the up-coming move and what we would need to have in the home. I understand that there are radios that are just for weather advisories and warnings. I'm scared I won't hear the sirens, so I told Brock that we will be getting one of these radios. Actually, I told him that we needed at least two. He laughed at me. I wasn't kidding. In fact, I would feel so much better if everyone just carried one around with them everywhere they went, a'la the 80's boombox. That might help with my anxiety. But probably not.
We did however, come up with a great idea for an app. It's basically a tornado siren for your phone. It would go off loudly, regardless if the phone were on silent and alert you immediately that there is a tornado in the area or if there is a warning. I would PAY for that, and I don't pay for any apps. I wouldn't even get the free version that would only tell you if there was an actual touchdown. I want to know if there is a freaking cloud in the sky. If the wind is over 3 mph. If there is a cow flying in the sky. Hey, I saw Twister, I know how this goes. Maybe one day, I'll adjust to the life of having tornadoes. Maybe it will just stop bothering me. Maybe I'll turn into a big black opera singer. Yeah, I don't see any of those things happening.
4 comments:
Girl, i understand your fear of the tornado thing. Actually there is a push here now by one of the weather man "gods" (and i mean that seriously) to get away from the siren thing and get everyone a NOAA weather radio. The storms last night hit, and while this godsend was on the tv literally all night, there were still fatalities. Sirens are meant to be heard if you are outside, not inside a house, or god forbid, sound asleep and without a clue whats coming at you!
Dont stress the move. There are alot of us down here that didnt get blown away, and would love to have you. What area are you coming to anyway? Good luck!
We will be moving to the Birmingham area. Probably not in the city city party, but just outside. We're thinking the Helena area. Close enough to go into the city but far enough away so it's not too urban. I'll probably be really stressed the first month or so. I think the biggest factors on where we will live is if they get tornadoes there. And if they have a basement. And if they don't have a basement, they need to have a shed in the back with a pipe that goes into the ground and leather belts. Like I said, I saw Twister, I know how this is going to go down.
Oh and who was the weather God? Was it Derek Kinkade?
We have a NOAA weather radio, and trust me on this, its LOUD. It also helps that the dogs know what to do when they hear it. I was just as paranoid when we first moved to Kansas, but I just made sure that blankets, extra shoes, first aid kids, unparishable snack foods, dog leashes, water, batteries, flashlights, candles and lighters were stashed in the various cabinets in the bathroom. I'm also a weather nut, and will stalk the weather channel when that first 'watch' alarm goes off on the radio. Shane thinks its hilarious, but whatever. Be sure to program in your county, and maybe one over in each direction on the radio so an approaching storm doesn't catch you completely off guard. Just be sure whatever house you get has one room without windows (it'll usually be a bathroom) and designate that as the storm room. Good luck with the move, and keep us updated!
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