June 29th, my friend Beth and I were just ready to run to the grocery store to get a surprise for Justine before her wedding rehearsal, when the sky turned black and it started to rain. Not keen on looking like a drowned rat, I decided to hold off until the rain subsided. Rather than calming down, though, a wind picked up and began to howl. As we looked out the window, we saw the patio umbrella swoosh up into the sky and land on the other side of the house. I guess that was the sign to get away from the windows. Soon, Mom, Dad, Beth, and I were all huddled in our "tornado shelter," which is actually our downstairs powder room, to wait out the storm. Beth sat on the toilet seat, Mom and Dad on kitchen chairs, and I perched like a monkey on the bathroom sink. After the winds ceased, we walked outside, pulled a gigantic branch from under her car that the wind had shoved there like a child cleaning his room by shoving the mess in a small closet, and drove to the store. As we went I could see the damage the storm had wreaked: trees down, collapsed roofs, curled shingles, a fallen pillar, and a twisted gutter. The most amazing thing, I think, was the McDonald's sign. The plastic had completely blown out, leaving only an outline of their colossal sign. The power was off in most of the city, as well as the grocery store (failed mission for Beth and I), but luckily the church and Justine and Justin's reception hall was unaffected. I have some pictures of the effects (our table) from the first storm, and my dad and I cleaning up from the second big storm of the summer.
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| The table shattered, and the umbrella broke when it flew over the house. |
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| Mom and Dad vacuumed up the glass for Chula. :P |
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| "Proof" that I helped carry the pine branches to the trailer. |
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| The blue spruce out back came down. |
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| Dad chopped, and I carried. |
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