Sickeningly Green and Dangerous Looking Sky

Not long after we moved to Oklahoma, we were driving the family up the highway to eat at a restaurant, when I noticed the sky in the West was getting sickeningly green and dangerous looking.

Turned on the radio, heard a description that suggested a twister might be heading right toward our destination. Turned the car around, got back inside, and gave the kids their first lesson in where to be in a tornado threat.

Skies cleared, and we drove back to the restaurant. The funnel had gone right down the cross-street, twisting trees and business signs - low-level tornado, but still did a number on property.

Got to the restaurant and the young hostess came up to seat us, as if all were normal, except, her eyes were as big as saucers. A vision of adrenaline aftershock.

She told us the crew had hidden in the walk-in freezer,* although some customers just sat it out in the (glass-all-directions) dining area. Oklahomans!

*While walk-in freezers are not actually recommended, I do recall the Tulsa tornado of '74 (the one that was a block and a half from my house) destroyed the Braum's down the street... leaving only the counter, stools... and the walk-in where the employees huddled. So, not recommended but better than nothing.

Subjects: