One Sunday afternoon in March, about this time of month because I remember it was close to Easter, the phone rang.
It was my friend, Tom, calling from the radio station where we both worked.
He said there was a report of a tornado on the east side of Indy where we lived and asked me to look out the window and see if I could see it.
I did and I could.
As Tom put me on the air and I began describing what I was seeing, the twister seemed to be getting larger and darker and, more seriously, closer!
After a few minutes of live broadcasting I told Tom it looked like the tornado was headed in our direction and I was getting out of there.
We piled a few belongings and whatever family was home at the time into the car and drove away.
The tornado tore into a different apartment project about a mile from where we lived before it dissipated.
It didn't come any closer to us but it did a lot of damage where it did come down.
We eventually returned home, glad to be alive and safe.
Tornadoes are scary and while I had seen some small twisters as a kid in North Dakota this was the closest I had been to a big one in Tornado Alley.
Here's a picture of Judy and me outside the apartment house we were living in at the time.
You'll just have to forgive me for my clothing.
It was the Disco Era, you know.
The doormen at Studio 54 wouldn't let you in wearing those pants.
ReplyDeleteI driving home to Carmel in a Indiana Thunderstorm and saw a lightning bolt hit the big TV tower north of the city, the tower glowed after the hit...Channel 8's transmitter was fried.
Ah, I was expecting a real Whirling Dervish. I thought you'd been to Kathmandu.
ReplyDeleteI played a lot of golf in a pair of slacks just like those. In wish I still had them, I played a lot better in those slacks.
ReplyDeleteI've only been close to a very small tornado, I have no desire to be close to a big one...very scary.
Your reporting from the scene that day was brilliant and as I recall netted the station a couple of awards. Those pants by the way could have been what kept the twister away from you.
ReplyDeleteThose pants would scare Hurricane Sandy out to the Atlantic without hesitation! LOL!!!
DeleteI had some pants that looked similar. Looking good.
ReplyDeleteSteve
I forgive you for being appropriately fashionable for that time.
ReplyDeleteHah! Tom's comment above was good. I think I knew a couple people like you back there and then.
ReplyDeleteOh...MY EYES, MY EYES! I suspect the tornado was repelled, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the look - you & SWMBO look very fashionable. Of course, she could still wear her outfit today, but you'd stick out like a sore thumb (or a golfer). Ha!
ReplyDelete