terrors that come from the sky

that is what i now consider a tornado to be. i have always been fascinated by them. whenever i flip through the tv channels and a tornado show is on, i must stop and watch it until it ends. i have a goal that i must go tornado chasing and see a tornado before i leave oklahoma. i was very close to this goal. if i had finished my final 5 or 10 minutes later than i had, i would have seen a tornado from a relatively safe distance. but instead of seeing the tornado, i was in it. thats right, i achieved something that i never wanted to experience: a tornado attacking. and it was the most frightening experience of my life.

when i got to school before my final on may 10th, i was told that it was said to be a historical tornado day for oklahoma. i didnt believe it until i walked outside after my final and it was nearly 30 degrees warmer than it had been earlier that day. while driving home there were multiple reports of tornadoes touching down as well as some reports of ridiculously sized hail. im talking softball sized. all i wanted was to get home without hail breaking through my windshield.

i parked and went into my apartment and turned on the tv. the tornado sirens were going off like they usually do, but who actually takes cover. i was looking outside because i have always loved watching storms and noticed one of my neighbors standing in the middle of the parking lot staring at the sky. her long hair then began to swirl a bit and the trees began to bend very low. the pressure then changed in my ears and i knew it was happening. i only had a few seconds to grab my purse and sprint into my closet before the wind began getting harder and harder and the walls started shaking a bit. i could hear trees and debris hitting the outside of the building. i realized that i had nothing to protect me and got so freaked out that i didnt know what to do and just told myself that it was the end. i was going to die in a tornado. before i could think anything else, a heard a tree fall on the roof and the wind suddenly stopped. not knowing what to do, i called my mom freaking out. i peeked out the window and there were branches and leaves up against the door and trees blocking any view out of the living room. doors i went outside and trees had fallen down all around my building and the building next to mine. some were even completely uprooted. it looked like a complete disaster zone. 

trees were down. fences were down. the second story skylights got sucked off. no ones phone would work. somehow mine could make a few phone calls and i was very thankful for that because i dont know what i would have done. i was freaked out.

it turns out that the tornado that was on highway 9 was lowering from the clouds right above my apartment. luckily the tornado wasnt actually on the ground yet. i cant even imagine how terrifying that would have been since this was extremely scary.

all i have to say is that i have paid my tornado dues. i still want to see one though. i am a bit upset because i feel that may 10 was my day to see one. i think they said there were about 20 tornadoes across the state that day. im just glad that i can say i survived. i obviously didnt study for my final i had the next day after this adventure. dont worry, i still did fine regardless!

love.