Where Were YOU During That Storm?

How exhilerating!

I love the energy that lingers in the air just before and after a storm like that rolls through. I knew that the conditions were favorable for severe weather today but that tends to ring true on a lot of summer days when you have just the right mix of air. However, severe weather unleashed its fury on a huge chunk of the Chicagoland area and now ... everyone's got something to talk about.

I worked out in Naperville tonight where the heart of the storm rolled on through. I heard the warnings cut into the local WONC college station (they know how to play 'em!) and my excitement grew as I continued to work in my window-less environment. I love it when a watch becomes a warning. When it comes down to it, I have a place in my heart for atmospheric excitement, the sunshine doesn't hold a ton of appeal to me because nothing is going on. The movement of the storm holds so much appeal—the electricity of it all is so captivating. I was locking up my store when you could visibly tell something was going to roll through. As I was pulling out of my spot in the lot, the sirens blared through the saturated atmosphere. These moments, drive me to a thrill like you cannot imagine—it feels like the storms surges through my brain and body along with the sky. I literally stopped my car as I was driving through the parking lot, threw it into park, got out of my car, and thrust my arms into the air with great excitement. Oh Tornado Sirens; how sweet thy sound. My employee waiting outside for her ride witnessed this little happening and threw her head back in laughter as I hopped back in my car and drove off in a flash.

I was on my way to my friend Brooke's place as the sirens serenaded me in the background. I pulled up to find her, her counterpart and their buddy standing outside admiring the severity roll on in. Enthused and relieved that they were outside enjoying this, I joined in. I watched the ominous sky continue to grow in fury. We watched small grey clouds turn into huge plumes of wicked color. I hadn't experienced the full extent like that before. I loved really feeling that cold pool drop down and sweep us by. I loved feeling the pitch of the tornado sirens as they went off in our towns as well as towns around us. I love that I have friends that go outside as well when they hear sirens that alert them to the basement.We watched it roll in from the middle of a side road, no less. All of these things are good. Very good. Chasing holds a permanent spot on the "to-do"list.

But I know not everyone responds this way in times of severe weather. It's hard not to be overtaken by the power that these storms can produce. As a child I remember being extremely fearful and prepared for these storms that had the potential to roll on through on any day in the spring or summer. Now that I know a little bit more of what to look for, it doesn't intimidate me as much. Of course, the notion of not being able to stop these storms when they are in your path is terrifying, especially when they are packing a huge punch, like most recently in Alabama and Missouri.

Quite a few people are without power (270,000+ ComEd) and I know that some people got an onslaught of rain in that short amount of time. We dodged our tornadoes this time. For now they shall be fixtures in other areas of the Midwest. Hopefully everyone made it home safe and got through that.

I'll be waiting for the next one....

::doing the raindance::