After writing about the most recent storms here in St Louis, I found old memories popping into the forefront of my mind. I recall being in my early 20’s and having a very different perspective of the weather.
I was newly married. We lived in the middle of a 900 acre farm; beautiful and completely awesome. We had an old farm house that was completely primitive and very charming.
Family and friends loved coming to visit and each visit lasted for several days because it was indeed a journey to reach our location. Our close friends were in staying with us for a long weekend. It was springtime. Daffodils and forsythia were in abundance – full bloom. We had all the windows open in the house as we enjoyed the balmy breezes and early crops from the garden for our meals.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the sky changes. It was a creepiest color palette I’d ever seen – it was like an enormous bruise in the heavens. We were eager to get into the house – swiftly……rapidly feeling the fear mounting as we ran to the kitchen door. I can feel right now what I felt back then – my guts in a knot. We barely got into the house when the winds picked up like never before. We raced to get the root cellar door open but the opening was in the floor and the gusts of wind prevented any possibility, IT WAS LIKE TO DOOR WAS COMPLETELY SUCKED SHUT — OH MY GOSH!
We instinctively hit the floor, each one of us placing a beloved pet under our chest, grabbing hold of one another’s hand, and all of us grasping the root cellar door for dear life! HERE IT COMES – A RAILROAD TRAIN THUNDERING OVER OUR BACKS as we lay their screaming – “I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU TOO!” terrified that these would be our last words — ever.
And just as fast as it happened, it was over. We laid their crying and laughing nervously and petting the scared animals and releasing our hands form one another’s true death grip, realizing we could stand up and the house we were in was still present.
It was not a thing of beauty that day nor was it relaxing. It was like being on a roller coaster ride. Most of all, it was invigorating and humbling. I recognized that day how important it is to have your love in order – always. Be clean in your heart, be honest about who it is that you genuinely are and your life will be fine.
