At a Loss for Feeling and Words

I don’t know how I am supposed to be feeling right now. At 5:20 PM, I received a call from my mother crying stating that my brother just lost his house. My sister-in-law called Mom to tell her that a tornado came through and destroyed their home. My sister-in-law and two nieces were crying hysterically. I told Mom to keep me informed as to what I could do. When I hung up with Mom, I immediately called and left a message for “Alex” because I know that he was in the line of another storm system also under a tornado watch. My voice started to tremble as I left my message for him. I look back at what I said to Mom and I can’t believe I told her that I had a meeting at Village Hall to go to at 6:15 PM and that if she needed me to please call me on my cell phone. Mom called about 20 minutes later stating that my brother and his family were driving into town to stay at Mom and Dad’s. She asked if there were extra pillows and blankets they could borrow which I obliged. As I was getting ready to leave, Dad arrived to pick up the blankets and pillows. For the first time I saw my father really shaken up and on the brink of tears. My father told me my brother called back and said the house was “leveled at the foundation.” I seemed to have gone numb as to what I should be feeling. I started crying as I drove to Village Hall. I told my boss and boss’s boss what happened and that I may be called away at a moment’s notice and that I may be out of the office tomorrow. The chairman of the committee suggested I return home but I insisted on staying as I didn’t want to dwell on this.

After returning home, I called “Alex” back after he returned my call and left me a message. We spoke for about an hour about this and other “stuff” just to get my mind off what happened. It was good that he was there. After speaking with “Alex”, I changed out of my suit and tie and went to my parents’ house where everyone was. I soon found out that in regards to their house, everything that was above the floor of the of their ranch home was gone, but the floor was still intact for the most part, which means there could be a lot of salvaging still possible of items and furniture in the basement, which only last year my brother renovated into a nice lower level family room, recreation room and computer room. I told them that I am available to take off work if my assistance is needed. My brother let his emotions begin to flow when I hugged him. I also found out that my sister-in-law saved her life and my nieces’ lives. At first Mom thought that my sister-in-law went to the school to pick up the girls from some after school sports practice. It turns out that my sister-in-law and nieces were already home and out of the blue, they decided to go shopping for snow skis. If they didn’t decide to go shopping at that time, who knows what would have happened to them.

I couldn’t believe how composed my nieces were while I was at Mom and Dad’s. They were asking a few questions about the event and the aftermath, but they didn’t seem to be too disturbed. I hope they are able to sleep well tonight.

I finally returned home after my brother decided to call it a night.

If you see any news reports or coverage on the cities of Wheatland or Burlington, or Kenosha County, Wisconsin tomorrow (today), that’s where they were. And if you know of anyone in those areas, give them a telephone call to make sure they’re OK.