The Storm

It started before bedtime, and we knew it was going to be a big one, but we all went to sleep hoping for the best. Can't remember the time but Ryan woke me from a good sleep and joined me (Mike was at work). Shortly after he came down we heard the sirens. I tried to ignore it, while at the same time making a game plan in my mind of getting Ryan to the bathroom while running upstairs for Amber. I thought of getting her right then, but figured Mike would call if it was really that bad. Then the phone rang. Mike asked "do you have the kids with you", "I have Ryan", "well go get Amber". Great, this was not going to be a fun night. Amber got up easily and came downstairs. More sirens went off and the kids had caught on by now what they were. Thankfully I was so tired they couldn't tell I was a bit worried myself. I thought of going into our safe room, but couldn't bring myself to do it. Our "safe" room is a tiny bathroom under the stairs that has only a sink and a toilet. It is very small, but still manages to have two doors (that just doesn't seem so "safe" to me). I figure if I hear anything we will all grab our pillows and the comforter and I would put the kids in front of the door that opens in (should be safe), while I lock and door and sit in front of the one that opens out (while trying to remember what way do the doors open). I wasn't too worried because I figured Mike was keeping a good eye on things and would let us know. Then the hail hit, up until then other than the thunder and lightening it didn't sound like it was raining that bad, but when the hail hit it was was loud! After awhile things finally quieted down. Amber was not doing good in the middle, so when she got up to go to the bathroom I had Ryan scoot over to put Amber on the other end. When she came back she said "I didn't want to switch", so she continued to complain, only now it was about being on the end and not about being squished (ugh). Thankfully Mike called back and I asked if it was okay to put the kids back to their own beds. He said the tornado's were gone and the next storm was just going to be rain, no tornadoes. Yea! Amber went right back to sleep (I am sure), I went right back to sleep (almost), as soon as the next storm started Ryan came back down. It was fine though, our bed sleeps two just fine, not so much three though.

I thought the night had been exciting . . . . . that was before my drive in to work. I PROMISE I will never take 96th street when we have heavy rains again! I know, I have promised this before, but this time I MEAN IT!!!!! After the last storm and I literally swam into work I said this, but today was even worse!!! I didn't think it had rained sooo much last night (WRONG!). I saw the water on both sides of the street most of the way up 96th, but I didn't turn back (BIG MISTAKE!). I got to 145th and had a great opportunity to turn, but I didn't (BIG MISTAKE). As soon as I went over the first hill I saw a lot of red lights (oh no), it was a fire truck. I still managed to see this as a positive sign "if he can get through . . . ." But actually the fire truck was in the driveway of a house on the right, not coming down the road. Then a white truck turned to come down 96th from the street in front of me and I could tell he was taking the turn wide (don't ask me why) before I was even past him it was clear he was in the ditch and was significantly under water. I could see his tail behind me as I kept going, but now I was significantly worried at this point. Don't ask me why but I continued to keep going as the water rose, I hit a dry spot, then started to swim. Now everyone asks me why I didn't turn around . . . the roads are so narrow and the ditches are full of water so the only answer at this late point would be to back up . . . way, way, up and I'm not so great at that. Plus, my foot was still on the gas so I felt there was little I could do at this point (BIG MISTAKE). I started screaming as I saw the very tail end and only the back window of a PT Cruiser (I think that is what they are called), just off to my right, off of the road heading downstream. The water was flowing at a very high rate across the road and I thought I was going to be right along side the cruiser in a few minutes. Considering the only part of the Cruiser that I could see was the back window, the rest was under water, I was really screaming at this point. It went something like this "OH GOD, PLEASE JUST GET ME THROUGH THIS AND I PROMISE I WON'T BE SO STUPID AS TO EVER DO THIS AGAIN" repeated several times with extremely high pitched squeals in between. I now have a death grip on the steering wheel and my foot, oblivious to everything going on around it, is still pushing the pedal. PRAISE GOD! I made it to the other side, but I'm still not quite myself. I see two cars coming down 96th towards me. Last time I tried to signal them to turn around and they ignored me. This time I rolled down my window, flashed my lights and waved my arm like a crazy women (which I really was at this point) AND THEY STILL IGNORED ME. One lady even waived back . . . LIKE I WAS TRYING TO SAY HI???? Oh well, I can tell you if any crazed looking lady (I had to be a site) had been waving at me at any point before I started my swim I would have backed all the way up to 129th, but I had no such OBVIOUS warning (okay, several slightly obvious warnings like the rising water, the fire engine, the Truck that went swimming right in front of me, but no crazed lady waving her arm out the window. It took awhile for me to calm down. Just ask any of the pastors who talked to me that morning. But I warned several more people. And I called Mike as soon as I got to work and told him that anytime it rains heavily he is to make me promise I will not go down 96th street.

Oklahoma . . . . gotta love it!