All my life I have lived in an area of the country that is colloquially known as Tornado Alley. When springtime rolls around, nature is primed to provide us with a white knuckle moment or two, as well as numerous false alarms and close calls. Most natives greet these natural temper tantrums with a certain amount of uninterested aplomb, having been inoculated by years of tornados and rumors of tornados.
This spring has been particularly raucous in the weather department. In the space of a month, we have lost and replaced several sections of our roof twice, and had two trees completely uprooted. In a made for a movie moment, we were awakened by storm sirens and winds so strong that the windows were rattling in their frames, as we hauled sleeping kids from their beds and rushed to take shelter. That storm deposited pea sized hail in such quantities that we had to scoop piles away from the door to exit and access the damage.
After a second night consecutive night of gathering the troops to take shelter from a threatening storm, I find myself dreaming of spending some time where spring is a bit more serene. I hear Paris in spring is lovely, and I hope to visit someday when this most glorious city puts on her best dress for all to see.
Until then, check out our three day trip through Paris and the surrounding area. And while you are here, help me satisfy my curiosity and tell me if monthly tornado drills were a regular part of your school experience.
Lucky Eiffel Tower
Lovely Ladies of the Louvre
Rainy Notre Dame
Une Suprise Magique
A Blustery Day at Versailles and Chartres Cathedral
Yep – – – good old tornado alley! I have nearly always lived in it too.
A couple of weeks ago, Merrill Wisconsin was hit with a pretty devastating tornado only to get snowed on the next day! That's just about an hour or so north of here.
My MIL in FL will watch the weather channel and if she sees tornado or flood warnings for anywhere in our state, she's calling worried about us. Nearly ALL of those times we aren't in a bit of danger and are, in fact, ignoring the cry of "wolf."
Keetha,
Similar story here. We joke that we don't need a weather radio because we have my mom.
LOL!!! Many is the time that dear MIL calls us all worried and we've got blue skies and sunshine – – – but if she spotted a tornado watch within 200 miles of us, she's worried.
Hey – – – I just found your comment about my "teacher-y" post titles.
Oh man, and here I was living under the false pride of thinking they were clever and funny and all the time they were just "teacher-y"
Shoot – – – I'll have to try harder – – – –
No, no. All the truly funny and clever people I know are teachers.
Living on the coast, I've experienced nor'easters but never a tornado. We are on a peninsula, surrounded by acres of open farm land and the wind is worse here than when I lived on the ocean front. I can only imagine experiencing the wrath of a tornado. I am glad you are all safe.
Deborah
Man, my little corner of the country (where I grew up, not where I live now) got hit hard, as well, during the twisters earlier this week. My sister's car, in fact, was parked INSIDE a covered garage and got totaled by the winds and hail. It was insanity!