Today Over Lunch...

How did you spend your lunch hour today? Were you, like me, obsessively checking the weather, waiting to see whether or not your city was going to be hit by a tornado?  No?  Thank goodness.  Because, seriously, it isn't a whole lot of fun.

I was coming back to my desk after a meeting, intending to check my email and then perhaps take a brief walk to Crown Center or Union Station (all of which, conveniently, are linked by an indoor walkway to avoid the rainI knew had been predicted).  I had already heard words swirling around about possible tornado sightings, but somehow I had convinced myself that it was just nervous chatter sparked from the devastating weather of the past few days. However, as I was about thirty feet from my desk, our security team got on the loud speaker, ordering everyone to their "safe location" immediately. Having no clue where this "safe location" really was, I hurried back to where my co-workers were gathering their things, preparing to head to the stairwell.

We hadn't move more than five feet when other people began streaming in hordes into the lounge area outside our cubicles. Turns out, we were already located in our safe location, which in some ways was convenient since at least I had my computer to pass the time. As our area filled with displaced employees, I tried hard to figure out what I should do. I admit feeling a sinking feeling in my stomach, worried that perhaps something horrible was about to happen but not really convinced of the severity of the situation. The benefit of being so far into the bowels of the building is the safety, but it certainly makes you feel like you are in a cave, unable to see what is coming your way. Granted, my actual observation of the weather conditions would have been of little value, but there is something about having to see to believe, and without visual confirmation, I was having trouble grasping just how serious it might be. (I also tend to mitigate the danger of certain situations...)

I called home to make sure my grandmother was aware of what was going on outside, I said a little prayer asking for protection for friends, family, and all those in the path of these storms, and then I had nothing else to do but worry and wait. There wasn't much to gather from the tv stations' web sites, and having the added comfort of being surrounded by co-workers (one thing I did know as the security announcement began to resound was that I certainly did not want to be alone...I wanted to be around people), I did what I do best--I worked. It was a bit half-hearted, but focusing on emails and requests made it possible to ignore the gnawing in my stomach. It got me through the half hour or so we were under a tornado warning, and when the news reported that some damage had occurred but no reports of any deaths, I sighed a breath of relief. I felt a little on edge the rest of the afternoon, but needlessly so. The rest of the day has been quiet, and tomorrow looks like a brighter day.

There have been too many tragedies in the past few days to be ready for another onslaught of casualties. Many of us are still reeling from the devastation of Joplin, only a few hours south of KC. The response from the people in this area to provide relief and support has been astonishing--blood centers have reached capacity, tons of supplies being donated, people providing their skills and expertise--and it serves as a wonderful reminder of human kindness and resiliency. But, in times where it seems like one thing after another, we reach a point of exhaustion, and for some reason, I feel we (as a society) are nearing that point. Thank goodness our resolve wasn't put further to the test today. While I would like to believe that no matter what happens, I and those around me would find a way to press on, I admit that I don't mind not having to prove that point through personal experience. But, for those who are living this as a reality, I will do what I can to make it easier, and pray that they find relief and comfort during this challenging time.

Gray Days

Last week at this time, I was luxuriating outdoors, enjoying the blissful warmth of a spring evening. Today, I sit in my room wearing several layers, a blanket draped over my shoulders. Large, fluffy flakes fall heavily, lightly frosting the tips of the bushes outside my window. I cannot deny that I am a little chagrined by the turn of events, but such is the fickle nature of the weather. So what is one to do when trying to pass time while feeling trapped indoors?  Work on the next part of the story I shared last week. I didn't get very far this week. I am still trying to reconnect with my characters and the story between them. (I even did some research earlier by walking outside in this bitter cold weather...well, it wasn't really research, but I did try to think of reasons why anyone would be determined to walk in foul weather come hell or high water...)  Anyway, below is what I came up with...it is beginning to be more of a character study than anything else. I need to introduce more plot elements, I think...

Her gaze swept the room, hunting for anything that might give her a clue what kind of person she had followed home. The small apartment was sparsely furnished but tidy. A large bookshelf dominated the far wall, a mishmash of titles filling it to capacity. While an improvement over the wind and rain outdoors, the air was cool, as if heat were a luxury he couldn’t quite afford. No pictures hung on the wall, and the distinct lack of personal effects left her feeling uneasy. She was used to the idea of a home being warm and inviting, not that she herself had ever felt that kind of comfort in her own house. When she had agreed to follow this man back to his place, a small part of her hoped that he would be an answer to her prayers, providing her with an infusion of warmth lacking in her current life. The cold sterility of the room deflated all hopes, and she felt resigned to the fact that this wasn’t going to the defining moment that changes the course of her life irrevocably.

He watched her as she took in the room in its entirety, trying to gauge what her reaction was to be. He felt foolish inviting her back, knowing that his place was not what he had wanted it to be, at least not yet. He had only recently moved in, leaving many of his possessions in his parents’ care. Soon, he hoped to dress the walls with photographs, artwork, anything to breathe some life into this Spartan existence. But for now, all he could offer was a cup of tea and a place to stay dry. This curious young woman needed something, and even though he knew better than to think he was the one to give it to her, something compelled him to step outside of his normally quiet life to invite her in.

“I’m Thomas, by the way.” She turned to see his hand extended, waiting for her to shake it.

“Emma.”

“Um…the washroom is down the hall, if you want to er, freshen up a bit. I’ll put the kettle on for some tea, if that’s alright?”

How British, she thought with an inward smile. “Thank you. That sounds lovely.” She headed to the bathroom as he turned to the kitchen.