No one said…
our good-byes would be so difficult
and have to last forever.
our journey crossing the Atlantic would be so long.
trains rides lasting days would take
us across vast America.
so many hardships and crisis could be
experienced on the plains.
prairie grasses
waved in the wind and beauty was found as far as the eyes could see.
the family would flourish and great
bounty be realized.
the snows ran deep and a pioneer
Christmas could be so perfect.
how important owning land would be for
Papa.
…But I did and I
am.
A Stormy Night
I have a healthy respect for weather--especially tornadoes.
I don’t live where I can hear a warning siren, so during stormy weather I watch
the clouds and listen to the weather bulletins on the television or radio. If
the weatherman says there is a funnel cloud headed in my direction, or if I see
one coming toward me, I go to the cellar. Otherwise, I do not go down there
with the snakes, scorpions and spiders. I don’t want them barging in on me
every time they feel a little nervous about the weather, so I do not do it to
them. Along with snakes and spiders, the cellar usually has four or five inches
of water in it each spring. In order to get to the cellar, I have to go outside
in the wind and rain. Did I mention it is dark in the cellar, and there might
be snakes, scorpions and spiders in it? Oh no, I do not go to the cellar often.
Once, when the children were young, our family did go to
the cellar. The sky, dusty green earlier in the evening, had turned pitch
black. The temperature was close to 80 degrees, much too hot for so early in
the year. The air was very still, and the dog paced nervously. Suddenly, our
television show was interrupted. A tornado had been spotted near town. My
family rushed to the cellar. My husband and I grabbed flashlights, radios,
pillows, blankets, baby pictures, and, of course, the kids themselves. The
baby, gently lifted from his crib, did not wake.
"Gee, Mom, I should have brought my homework," my
older daughter said as we settled in.
"Hey, do you think it'll blow my school away?" my
other daughter asked. My older son hugged his pillow and watched imaginary
monsters in the musty recesses of the cellar. The baby continued to sleep. We
waited. It did not rain. The wind did not blow. The dog continued to pace, and
the kids asked more questions.
“Mom, do we have to pay the fine if our library books blow
away?”
"Mom, can I get my doll from my room?" my younger
daughter asked.
"Mom, I need to go to the bathroom."
“Mom, my gym suit is in the washing machine. What if it
blows away?” my older daughter asked.
"Mom, we’re missing my favorite television show.”
"Mom, something moved in that corner. I think it is a
spider."
My older son tightened the grip on his pillow. The baby
slept peacefully in his father's arms. Amidst the radio static, I heard it: "all
clear. The immediate danger has passed. The storm is lessening in intensity. We
missed the severe weather. We now return you to your regularly scheduled
programing." I reassured my son. "See, we're all right. There was not
a tornado--no monsters either."
“Oh, Mom, I knew God would take care of us. I wasn't
scared. Can I put one of those neat spiders from the cellar in a jar for show
and tell tomorrow? Please, Mom?" my
son asked.
Oh yes, little boys and weather are hard to predict.
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