Tornado alley

Growing up in Kansas, I learned very early on that tornadoes were a constant threat during the summer. It gets hammered into Kansans that a tornado can strike anywhere, at any time. But I always sort of thought that my hometown would be spared. I'm not quite sure why that is, but I felt like my hometown was invincible. When I checked my email this morning, I had an email from my friend Amy: "Are your parents okay? What about their house???" And my heart sunk: tornado. I called my parents and left a message: "IHEARDTHEREWASATORNADOCALLMEBACK." Then I called my brother, in Baltimore, hoping that he had heard from them. Another answering machine. "THEREWASATORNADOINMANHATTANCALLMEBACK." Finally, I was able to get some news. And after what seemed like an eternity, I talked to my family. My hometown sustained some damage, but thankfully nothing that can't be fixed. It may not be invincible after all, but at least it's still there. phew