A Sailor-his family and a Tornado 09/30/2011
The weather was almost scarey that spring day in April. The clouds over Matthews were black and ominous...so dark out that you would have thought it was late at night, but it was early afternoon. Aunt Violet and Uncle James Lomax were wondering what this storm would bring to Matthews and their property. The high winds were making the trees bend towards the ground, and was raining so hard they could barely see a foot in front of them. They grabbed up their baby girl, Janet, and headed to the storm cellar. Thank goodness they had a storm cellar to hide away in until the horrible weather was over. Aunt Violet held Janet tight as she listened to the thunder rumbling and the rain hitting the cellar door so hard it sounded like somebody throwing rocks. The wind was starting to remind James of a train heading down the tracks...could it be a tornado? The storm ended as fast as it started. When they emerged from the dark storm cellar, they weren't prepared for what they saw. The house was intact, but the garage with the apartment above it had been totally blown away. First thing Violet said was, "Thank the Lord Helen and the babies moved before this hit! Had they been here that tornado could have taken them along with the apartment." She wasn't so much concerned about the loss she and James had taken, but relieved that her niece and children were safe in Kewanee. Helen had no clue that a tornado hit Matthews the week after she moved and the apartment with the furry critters was blown to smithereens . All she could think about lately... Willie was finished with his six weeks basic training and would be headed home any day now. It was bitter sweet to think about him coming home though. Why you ask? They would be reunited which made her very happy...but only for two weeks before he would be going back to Bremerton, Washington to board the USS West Virginia to begin his 3 years in the Navy. She has done okay...but the thought of him being away for such a long time makes her so sad. Willie rode the train from Bremerton, Washington back to Michigan where he caught the bus that was headed to Missouri. He was tired, but too excited to sleep. He would soon see his wife and children...they would be sleeping by the time he makes it home...but he would get to kiss them and just look at their sleeping faces. The bus stopped at Highway 61 where it intersects with Highway H outside that little town in Missouri and the young sailor with knapsack strapped to his back stepped off. He walked the mile up the dark road toward Matthews to get to his precious family. When he got to Violet and James' house it was around 3 in the morning...he turned white as a sheet when he saw that the apartment had been blown away. Dear Jesus...please let my family be okay! He knocked on the door and when James answered, he saw the look on Willie's face and knew what he was thinking. He quickly let him know that Helen and the kids had moved out before the storm hit and were safe in Kewanee. Willie slept on Aunt Violet and Uncle James couch the rest of the night...he would see his family in the morning. Comments11/17/2011 6:52pm
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Paula Tollison Andrews Maupin I am married to Bobby and live in the Nashville, TN area, working as Executive Assistant to both the Director of Sales and General Manager of FOX17, MyTV30 & CW58 television I have 3 wonderful sons and daughters in
love (Brad & Holly Andrews, Bryan & Stacy Andrews and Brandon
& Ashley Andrews) from Tulsa, St. Louis & Springfield
respectively. They have given me 9 precious grandbabies. (Joseph,
Cooper, Margo, Sloan, Jonas, Nora, Everett, Lawson and Blythe & Gma
loves them so much) I also have 2 great stepsons and daughter in love
(Jonathan & Kathryn Maupin and William Maupin) from Lexington,
Kentucky.
As a lady who's lived through both good & bad circumstances in my life, I've learned and continue to learn a lot of "life lessons". Along the way I have been inspired to be a better me. God is faithful in ALL circumstances and His love covers all. My hope is that you will be inspired to be who you were meant to be. I have been writing this blog about my mom and dad since September of 2011. You can find their story from the beginning by going to the Stories link. Happy Reading!!!   ArchivesMarch 2012 |
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