Disappointed

When you grow up in Oklahoma, you have a certain expectation when you hear words like "warning," "thunderstorm," and "stay indoors." You also grow to expect certain things upon hearing thunder. Eventually, you learn to fully believe the weatherman when he says that it will most certainly storm today, even if it's the middle of January. Crazier things have happened in Tornado Alley. Here in Hawaii, there is much disappointment to be had for the native Oklahoman.

I might have heard the weatherman say there would be storms today. I just brushed it off. Yesterday, we were guaranteed rain and I do believe it rained for 20 minutes on my side of the island before the clouds cleared. Since I was forced to stay home today thanks to good ole Aunt Flo instead of going to the museum, I saw a fictional ray of light when I heard the first rumble of thunder. Finally my day was looking up!!

I watched as dark clouds made their way toward my house, hoping they would bring lots of thunder and rain. There's nothing quite as satisfying as being home while it's pouring down rain and storming. We "crazy" Oklahomans like to sit on our porches and watch these storms as if it were simply rain. In fact, I did this a lot as a child. We'd all sit on the porch, listening to the thunder, watching the lightning and rain. I won't lie that I would jump at loud claps of thunder. I still do when I'm at home, where the real storms are.

After a while, it started to rain but even that didn't last long. The thunder would rumble every once and a while, but it was nothing exciting. I didn't see any lightning, but maybe that's because it was daylight and it doesn't get as dark here during storms as it does at home. After an hour or so, the thunder stopped altogether. It's sad. I was all geared up for some serious thunder and all of the rain that those "flash flood warnings" had predicted earlier.

Only an hour ago did the lightning start appearing. I can still hear some low rumbles of thunder, but it's disappointing. I know that the east (?) side of the island is getting hit hard with the rain, but I would at least like something to happen over here!! The best storm we've had all season was when Joe was home on R&R. It was absolutely pouring, the thunder was loud and crackly and there was a fair amount of lightning. It was almost like being home. Joe even laughed at me because I was jumping around all excited and even took a video of it. 


What can I say? I'm an Oklahoma girl, raised where summer nights were spent in cellars or bathtubs, listening to the weather radio and watching my dad "stand guard" watching the storm. I was woken up by many a tornado siren during the middle of the night and forced to run across the backyard into the safety of the storm cellar. Our schools all but shut down when Severe Thunderstorm Warnings/Tornado Watches were issued. When in a random store during a bad storm, we would think of places to hide just in case. One night after church - while Joe and I were engaged - I went home with him (because his house was closer) and hid in his parents' hallway closet with him, my SIL, my nephew and my MIL for a good 2-3 hours before the storm had passed. I'm used to hail, 60 mph winds, the loudest thunder you've ever heard, funnel clouds, wall clouds and pouring rain. So this - this rumbly thunder and sprinkling rain - is highly disappointing. 


When can I go home again?!


Here's hoping an awesome thunderstorm is waiting for me the next time I travel to Oklahoma. ;-)

Yikes

Since I'm sitting here waiting for a round of storms to start, this title seemed appropriate. You'd think that since I grew up in freakin' tornado alley, I'd be used to these sorts of things. Thunderstorms? No biggie. I'll sit on the porch with a glass of tea and watch it, thank you very much. Thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes? I'll go hide under a rock, or in a hole...please!

I think growing up in tornado alley just made my fear of tornadoes worse. Ever since I was about 8, I have recurring nightmares about tornadoes. Seriously. When I was a kid, I'd dream that my brother and I were playing in the yard and a tornado would touch down across the street. When I started driving, the dream changed to me being in a car trying to drive very quick-like to get away from it. To top all that off, the night of my junior prom we hid in the bathrooms while tornado sirens were blaring. After they stopped [and it was still storming out] I drove like a bat out of hell trying to get home. That doesn't make those dreams go away. Oh, no. It makes them worse. *sigh*

So now, here I sit in my living room alone with the dog freaking out at the tiniest spark of lightning or clap of thunder. Why? Because a tornado warning was issued for my county. =( I'm tracking the storm online, thanks to one of the local station's websites and it's still about 10 miles away. I think. I haven't lived here long enough to really know. I probably shouldn't be freaking out, but I am. Most likely because my husband is in the barracks and I'm here alone.

Other than tonight, the weekend has been fairly good. I felt like crap yesterday. My throat was sore and I was just extremely tired. I didn't put any make up on yesterday, and didn't even attempt to cook for my hubby until this evening. He was sweet and put up with my clingy, whiny self. =) I'm probably an annoying sick person. I like to be taken care of when I'm sick. So, I may complain a bit more than is actually necessary. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this! God bless my hubby for putting up with me. =) I probably got spoiled by all those years of having my mom take care of me. I've been sick pretty much since the day I was born, so my mom [as I'm sure most moms are] has always been very...concerned about my health. So yeah. Me = spoiled. It's ok though. What's strange is that my throat was sore again this morning when I woke up - no surprise there - but feels almost normal now. I don't get it. Maybe it was just allergies? Who knows. I'm definitely going to be gargling warm saltwater just to make sure, though.

Here's hoping that things get straightened out with Joe's orders and I can travel with him to Hawaii! That will make this next week so much better! Hope y'all have a great week!