Stormy with a Chance of Meatballs

If you've been following the news or social media at all, you probably heard about the severe weather outbreak we had here in Illinois and across the Midwest yesterday.

Three days prior, on Thursday, I caught a tweet from the National Weather Service out of Chicago cautioning the potential threat for Sunday.  Because I have a phobia of tornadoes, I immediately started worrying.

"What's the point?" Bruce firmly questioned.  It upsets him when I get upset, especially since there was no imminent danger.  "There are days and days until there might be bad weather.  Let's not ruin them; let's enjoy them!"

As usual, Bruce was the voice of reason.  So I tried my best.  On Friday night, it was one of our best friend's birthday.  Bruce's parents agreed to watch Emmie overnight so we could go to the city and celebrate.  The week before, I had the opportunity to go out sans child, but this weekend was even better, because it was Bruce and me.  We met our friends and Bruce's sister at the apartment, then we all went out to a corner bar and sang karaoke.  During that time, I didn't stress out about the impending storms.  I was too busy having fun.

Saturday was a different story.  With every passing hour, the threat for severe weather was upgraded.  The storms were predicted to start rolling in over night.  All the meteorologists I follow on Twitter were talking about it.  I know, it's maybe not such a good idea to perpetuate my fears by reading everything possible about the weather.  But I do.  At home again with Emmie, I was like a caged animal, pacing the house, imagining the sirens going off overnight and not getting Emmie to the basement in time.  I was afraid to sleep.  I envisioned the house blowing apart.  I was living the danger before it even happened.  This is what happens to people who panic.  It is absolutely miserable, for the person experiencing the anxiety and for that person's loved ones.  Bruce felt helpless.

I haven't mentioned this before, but a few months back I started seeing a therapist about my anxiety issues.  My doctor is awesome and helped me get on the plane to California for my friend's wedding in August.  I am understanding now that I should have sought help immediately after I got robbed.  The fears that developed from that experience have been manifested in new ways.  I'm out of the city now, so the threat of getting robbed has diminished quite a bit.  Therefore, it's been replaced by a new threat: tornadoes.  Knowing all this, I attempted to manage my anxiety through the techniques I've learned from my therapist and by doing yoga, but none of it worked too well.

Luckily for me, my friend Denny had no plans on Saturday night, so we invited him over.  Having a friend over helped me to feel more normal.  I don't know why, but when I'm together with Bruce and Emmie, I worry more.  Denny's presence was a welcome distraction.  I was still super concerned, but I did my best to keep things somewhat in check as we talked and watched Saturday Night Live.

I was able to sleep a few hours and woke up refreshed.  By then, the threat had been upgraded to high:

Please RT & give your friends & family a heads up! A dangerous severe wx outbreak is possible tomorrow: http://t.co/9inF6aZ1H1 #ilwx #inwx
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 17, 2013

I took a shower and had breakfast with Denny and my family.  Bruce made pancakes, yum!  After, Denny left to go get his daughter and make it home while it was still calm outside.  Then I started preparing, because a tornado watch had been issued and there were already reports of dangerous storms in the area.  Luckily, we have an room in the basement that is away from windows.  I filled a water jug and put it down there along with snacks, blankets, a diaper bag, and shoes for me and Bruce.  The shoes are in case there is a tornado, you don't cut your feet on debris.

When the sky started to darken, we all went downstairs, including the cat.  We hung out there for hours.  In times like that, I am utterly grateful that we got a house with a finished basement.  Bruce and Emmie played; I sat at my desk and checked email.  It was like any other day.  Emmie had no idea that anything was amiss.

Denny's meatball recipe, usually made for a party.

By late morning, in between storm warnings, Bruce went upstairs and got our crockpot and ingredients to make lunch.  He made meatballs in the basement!  He grabbed us each a beer and we ate at the table down there, making the most of the situation.

While report after report came in about tornadoes everywhere, by our house it stayed relatively quiet.  We got a few severe thunderstorm warnings that said 80-90 mph winds and golf ball-sized hail was headed our way, but nothing happened.  Only one time, for about ten minutes, did we go in the little 'safe' room.  Emmie ate a cookie while we waited it out.

By around 2 p.m., the tornado watch in Illinois was cancelled.  The threat was over.  I felt the hugest sense of relief.  We spent the rest of the day gratefully, together as a family.

We were very, very lucky.  Other parts of Illinois were demolished.  Seven counties have been declared disaster areas by our governor.  Bruce was going to drive to one of the towns to see if he could help, but by the time he would've gotten there, it would've been dark.  Plus, right now it's unsafe to have random people around the destruction.  Still, I am planning on doing what I can to help the victims of yesterday's terrible events.  Please consider doing the same.

Deadly storms can and do happen - at any time.  Worrying about them doesn't do anyone any good.  It's a waste of time and energy.  Instead, all anyone can do is have a plan and be prepared.  

November is the month when we give thanks.  Yesterday was an unfortunate reminder that we should be thankful every day for what we have and the people we love.