Flooded Field
Roadside, Oklahoma
We drove from Missouri through Oklahoma and then south to Ft. Worth today. The flooding was obvious as we zipped along the interstate and secondary roads. Just emerging crops were underwater as were some low lying farmsteads. We were happy that it was not raining anymore which made driving a lot easier. Tornadoes over night claimed several lives south of us in Arkansas and several others are still missing.
We had passed through Oklahoma on our way to the west coast in 1974 and spent a nervous night camping in Roman Nose State Park, northwest of Oklahoma City. There was one other couple at the campground and we played cards with them after dinner. It became obvious to us quite quickly that the couple was not all there mentally. We had worked the previous summer at a mental facility- Buz on the floor with the criminally insane. This couple seemed awfully familiar to us in their behavior. They cheated while playing cards but we were not about to say anything. When we asked them if they had any children they said, " Oh, they won't let us have any children." We were too spooked to ask why not or to inquire who 'they' were. The walls of our tent had never seemed as flimsy as they did that night. We were sure we were going to wake to an axe coming through the canvas with the sound effects of the shower scene from "Psycho" as a backdrop. We got up very early, broke camp and were out of there in record time. Had never been back to Oklahoma until now. Gas was about 25 cents then compared to $3.53 now- still a good deal compared to the $4 per gallon we left in Wisconsin.
We had passed through Oklahoma on our way to the west coast in 1974 and spent a nervous night camping in Roman Nose State Park, northwest of Oklahoma City. There was one other couple at the campground and we played cards with them after dinner. It became obvious to us quite quickly that the couple was not all there mentally. We had worked the previous summer at a mental facility- Buz on the floor with the criminally insane. This couple seemed awfully familiar to us in their behavior. They cheated while playing cards but we were not about to say anything. When we asked them if they had any children they said, " Oh, they won't let us have any children." We were too spooked to ask why not or to inquire who 'they' were. The walls of our tent had never seemed as flimsy as they did that night. We were sure we were going to wake to an axe coming through the canvas with the sound effects of the shower scene from "Psycho" as a backdrop. We got up very early, broke camp and were out of there in record time. Had never been back to Oklahoma until now. Gas was about 25 cents then compared to $3.53 now- still a good deal compared to the $4 per gallon we left in Wisconsin.
Roadside, Oklahoma
The weather held until we approached Ft Worth when we began seeing funny clouds. We turned on the radio to a local station and started to hear tornado warnings being issued. Ever try to find counties on a AAA regional map? Not easy. I did finally find the name of the county we were driving in and was relieved to find we were not in the tornado area. It was still bright sunshine but I knew from experience having lived in tornado alley in Indiana and Illinois that that can change very quickly.
The bad weather seemed to be in the county south of where we were going and it was heading east. So while were enjoying sunshine, just 15 miles south of us they were experiencing golf ball sized hail and rotating wall clouds. We arrived at my aunt and uncle's house and after good Texas hugs retreated to the poolside patio where we sipped wine and watched the clouds sail along south of us. We never did get a drop of rain.
Lovely to be here and listen to stories of our Maine hometown and families that we had never heard before. Felt like we were real life participants on the History Channel, only with all of it pertaining to us. Family photos adorn the walls throughout the house and at every turn it is a different memory bringing smiles to my lips. We are wondering what took us so long to visit! Warmth, comfort, love. Reenforces my belief that family is the most important part of our lives.
The bad weather seemed to be in the county south of where we were going and it was heading east. So while were enjoying sunshine, just 15 miles south of us they were experiencing golf ball sized hail and rotating wall clouds. We arrived at my aunt and uncle's house and after good Texas hugs retreated to the poolside patio where we sipped wine and watched the clouds sail along south of us. We never did get a drop of rain.
Lovely to be here and listen to stories of our Maine hometown and families that we had never heard before. Felt like we were real life participants on the History Channel, only with all of it pertaining to us. Family photos adorn the walls throughout the house and at every turn it is a different memory bringing smiles to my lips. We are wondering what took us so long to visit! Warmth, comfort, love. Reenforces my belief that family is the most important part of our lives.
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