Monday, May 23, 2011

Tick Tock - Tick Tock

This morning I sit in a quiet office as it sprinkles lightly outside on a gloomy Monday morning. About the only sounds I hear are the tick-tocking of the big clock near the "punch in" station, the soft, but mildly irritating, fan noise from my computer, and the occasional car passing on the wet street. I find myself mentally in another place, however.

a map showing a line of bad weather from Minnesota to Texas
Last night, I saw more bad weather was sweeping through the country - centered in the areas already hard hit with flooding and tornadoes. The weather radar image appeared as a nasty red tear, going from Minnesota, south clear to Texas. On the news I heard the names of familiar towns, such as those in Oklahoma where Parsley, Barb and Joan who live and the others in North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas and perhaps most alarming, Deanna and Julie in Missouri.

People I've never met, and yet, I look forward to hearing from them daily and seeing what they have been up to - and realize the Internet has brought into my world, a special (to me) group of people from all over.

And today, I sit here, a thousand miles away - full of hope they are all unharmed and that they and their families and friends are safe - I scan the news in the many small towns across the heartland of this big, but weather weary country - dreading, in this case, to actually find anything. And I check their blogs for new entries - and wait for the chime that announces "You have new mail" that might bring news from them saying "all is well here".

Tick tock. Tick tock. The wait seems to stretch on...

17 comments:

betty said...

amen....I know what you mean Iggy; so many on my mind this morning, just got to pray and wait and hope for the best........

betty

Furry Bottoms said...

I know, I'm waiting to see Parsley post something or say something! Augh. My nephew was hit in Minnesota, but no serious damage except that his garage was lifted and moved off the foundation box. Everyone else around him had more serious damage. I'm just glad he wasn't home at the time.

Texas Gal said...

Well the only thing I am in danger from is wildfires. If we don't get rain soon I'm not so sure NWTexas is going to be here next year! I hope all your blogger friends are safe. And I hope you stay safe too. PA has had it's share of floods and tornado's in the past.

Matty said...

It's interesting how making connections with people from all over through blogging makes you think of them when something happens. When a news item hits the media from a certain part of the country, or even the world, I find myself thinking of bloggers I know from those areas.

Hopefully your friends are a-ok.

AliceKay said...

We have heard from one so all is well there...so far. Thank God. I hope you hear from your other friends soon. *hugs*

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

There have been some vicious storms already and it's only May. This is looking like a bad tornado season coming in. We've had one tornado near us (about 10 miles) and I live about 10 miles from the east coast so I have to worry about hurricanes too. Holy crap!

I notice more weather alerts in areas I have blog friends too.

Anonymous said...

Hope all is well with all of them, and that the terrible storms stop soon!

Pamela said...

Storm chasing is the 1st thing on my bucket list...and I feel so guilty. This has been a difficult spring ...fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.

Anonymous said...

I sure hope everyone is fine also. Its so sad about all the tornadoes and so many lives lost. What a caring post Iggy :o)

yellowdoggranny said...

scary ....I'm still waiting for news from some friends in Mo. and one of my friends lost house 2 cars and all her belongs in the Ga. tornados..sigh*

Deanna said...

All is well here Iggy. It never occurs to me that anyone would worry about me. I'm so sorry you worried. I hope by now you have heard from all of your other friends and everyone is safe.

My heart is going out to everyone in Joplin MO. It is an area I've traveled to often as part of my work in state government. A lovely town that is now crushed.

Rita said...

I think all my friends and family are okay in Minneapolis. We really are a weather weary country right now, aren't we? :(

I know I was trying to think of where all my blogger friends live, too, and was hoping everyone was safe. I now know people scattered across the country and the world that I never would have known without the internet. The world grows smaller. Sending prayers to all the places hit by the last storms and protection for those near the new storms racing across the country! *hugs*

ChicagoLady said...

I'm glad you're ok, Punkn. I have a FB friend just outside KC, and so far she's ok too. Iggy, I hope none of the bad storms roaring through central PA affected you too badly. The tornado warnings here were north of me, near the border, I just had t-storms, but it all was enough to cause interruptions with my internet last night. I heard that May is the busiest month for tornadoes, so hopefully things will calm down soon. There have been so many weather related disasters this year.

aladdinsane12 said...

It is definitely scary to hear about things like that and not know if your friends are safe. When the London bombings happened a few years ago (and I was living in Scotland) a bunch of people contacted me to make sure all my friends were okay. It's always nice to know that people are thinking of you, and I'm sure they'll stop by soon and let you know how much they appreciate your thoughts!

Queenie Jeannie said...

I was worried about Deanna too - so glad she's ok!! Is it too much to hope for that we have a "boring" summer??? Hugs to you Iggy!

sugarlens said...

You are so thoughtful. :)

Lady Phantom B said...

Yeah I was in that tornado but it didn't hit Sedalia like it did Joplin. Just messed stuff up.