[SweetSunshine]

While driving home from therapy a bit ago.. I ran into a very bad storm. I had to pull over 3 times to get under an overpass. It was hailing sometimes pea size but it did get up to nickel size too. The winds were all over the place. Lightening was horrible. worst I've ever seen. When I was on my way home a friend called. She asked where I was. I told her I was driving home in this storm . She said it looked bad from where she was. She said it was 95 degrees where she was at which was about 10 miles from me and I had 76 degrees on my console in the car. Another friend said there was a funnel cloud spotted about 5 miles north of where my first friend was. This thing is building up worse and worse as I watch the radar. I have never ever had to pull over like I did today. I even went on the inside of the other cars parked under there in the grass. Storms scare me so bad .. I had been with my mom when I was in 3rd grade in our vehicle with a tornado going over us. So this is soooo reminicent of that time. I'm sorry.. I just needed to talk about this.. I am still shaking ...

[(JD)]

I'm glad you're ok!

Yes, it's tough when you have scary memories. But it is different now, and you did good self-care in pulling over and finding shelter. As a child you weren't in control at all.

I had a similar emotional jag while flying back from Denver Sunday. As the flight came East, into darkness, there were thunderstorms below (invisible really during light) very impressive but struck a chord and it was tough to keep from crying right there in the airplane. I realized it was triggering me back to the day I was disabled... but I was able to keep the two events separate.

Each time you can get through this, and do good self care (like posting about it too ) it will be easier for your brain to realize the difference from the tornado and now. Of course, the propensity for another tornado exists, but then, so does your staying safe.

(((hugs)))

[lenjan]

(((((((((Beth))))))))) that would be scary for anybody, I think, much less someone traumatized by bad storms.

I'm glad you're safe.

[Sabrina]

((((Beth)))) How very scary for you!! I am glad you are safe now!

[bebop]

that is scarey. I am glad you are ok. I wish we could get some rain here! it is 100 here but the heat index is like 114-119 today.

[DocClyde]

(((Beth)))

There is no problem talking about that...believe me, I am not a big fan of storms either

My next door neighbor would wake me up (when I spent the night with his kids) and would be yelling at all of us to hurry up because storms were "brewin" (as he called it)...and then he would take us all out underneath a bridge to wait it out. Funny thing is, we drove right through most of the storms just to get away from them

My mom's dad was that way too, he would wake them up when my mom was little (she was one of 13 kids) and be yelling about storms, and wake up, all that jazz...I am sure it is scary to a little kid, much less an older one (like me :P).

Just waking someone up screaming is freaky enough, but waking someone up and storms going crazy all over is bad too.

I still dont like thunder at all

Hope this helps you realize you are not alone...

[splitimage]

Sounds really scary - I hate being trapped in my car in a bad storm, it's bad enough without bad memories.

Glad you're ok.

--splitimage

so glad that you're ok beth......

[Bethsway]

sweetsunshine...I am so glad you are okay! It is horrible to be so scared about something...Glad you made it home okay!!

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SweetSunshine said:
While driving home from therapy a bit ago.. I ran into a very bad storm. I had to pull over 3 times to get under an overpass. It was hailing sometimes pea size but it did get up to nickel size too. The winds were all over the place. Lightening was horrible. worst I've ever seen. When I was on my way home a friend called. She asked where I was. I told her I was driving home in this storm . She said it looked bad from where she was. She said it was 95 degrees where she was at which was about 10 miles from me and I had 76 degrees on my console in the car. Another friend said there was a funnel cloud spotted about 5 miles north of where my first friend was. This thing is building up worse and worse as I watch the radar. I have never ever had to pull over like I did today. I even went on the inside of the other cars parked under there in the grass. Storms scare me so bad .. I had been with my mom when I was in 3rd grade in our vehicle with a tornado going over us. So this is soooo reminicent of that time. I'm sorry.. I just needed to talk about this.. I am still shaking ...

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Hi SweetSunshine,
Sounds like some mean storm. I don't like driving on the I-95 here in South Florida when it starts pouring. Some of the rudest drivers frequent the streets. They get so impatient behind me, and start gesturing stuff that I don't understand but I can see the expression on their faces. Usually I pretend that I don't notice all the gesturing, and eventually they pass me.

Getting under an overpass sounds good to me. Storms can turn the road into something dangerous. I am happy that you're ok.

Anna Marie

[eskielover]

After being in Ky for the last 2 1/2 months, I can really relate to those huge storms. they hit hard & fast & are gone just as quick, but the damage they can do is instantly. California doesn't have many thunder stroms & I was used to them when I visited my Grandparents in Kansas when I was a child....tornado warnings & all.....but I like being safe in home when they hit & not on the road....that makes a huge difference.

Just after I arrived in KY, I was out on an erand run & stopped at Taco Bell. As I got out of my car, I heard the sirens go off & it was a stromy day building...The policemen in Taco Bell said that was the storm warning when I asked them if is was just like in Kansas.

Your post reminded me of my California reaction to a storm we had when I was in KY too. The storm was coming in from the west & my doggie & I were outside (I was pulling weeds). He kept hearing the thunder & getting upset, so I decided to go inside. The wind started blowing & I remembered I had my flag up on the porch. I went out to get it down just as it started pouring & blowing water way under the porch cover. I was struggling trying to get the string untied to get the flag down & got completely drenched. I finally got the flag down & walked inside dripping a huge puddle all over the floor. I was getting the chills & decided to go take a nice hot shower to get warmed up. I stood in my upstairs shower, under my skylight.....looking up at the clouds & flashing lightning all around. Boy did I feel stupid......I could just see a bolt of lightning coming through the skylight to get me for being such a stupid Californian. I got out of the shower quicker than I could ever imagine at that point. Guess all the trees I found in my woods that had been struck by lightning in the past came into my mind when I looked through the skylight also.

I can truely relate to the stroms you are talking about.....but I really wish you would send at least some of the rain down to us in Kentucky, Georgia, & our area....we desperately need it.

Glad all was ok with you....it is scarry being out in stroms like that....they are so unpredictable.
Debbie

I can totally relate sweet. I was in a accident years ago in snow. So I am so afraid to drive in it when i know a storm is coming. Freaks me right out. Which is kinda funny cause i live in lake effect country. WHat am i thinking.
Glad you are ok....

<font color="#000088">Well I'm glad you are okay, yet shaken, but physically okay! It's perfectly normal to be scared in that type of situation. I think most people would be. But I think you did do the responsible thing by pulling over under the overpass. That was looking out for your own safety. Good for you! You were taking care of you! Which is what's the most important thing to do in these events. I was in a plane once, on it's way to the Salt Lake City International Airport, when all the sudden, we were like 10 minutes away from the airport,and the captian got on the radio and said "Due to Weather ahead,our flight will be delayed momentarily,so please put your seat belts on and be patient,until we are cleared to continue on in for our Decent to the S.L.C.Int.Airport.",he said it very calmly and said thank you for your patience. Within only a few minutes we were cleared to continue to the airport, well when we landed, I asked my Dad why he was so late picking me up, when my flight was late. Plus I had noticed outside the airplane window, traffic jams everywhere, just chaos! He told me that a Tornado had just ripped through Salt Lake City, first Tornado to every hit Salt Lake City, so you can imagine the terror in the people that lived in the area, they had no experience with Tornado's! Didn't have a clue of what to do. So atleast you had the knowledge of what to do in a situation like that to keep yourself safe!
Even though it was scary, I'm glad you made it out safely!
J</font>