June 27 t-storm
Once again my favorite annual event, the Summer Arts Festival, has come, been and gone. It was quite memorable this year for reasons other than one might think ...
Per usual, I took half a day off so I could enjoy it before the crowds converged. Shannon met me downtown around 2:30 where we had a great time walking around, chatting and enjoying the art, atmosphere and warm but beautiful weather. Our plan was to check out every artists' booth before buying anything which we did, only stopping to grab a snack at the Whole Foods tent where I scored one of those cute bags with the purchase of a 75 cent coconut-flavored popsicle. During our short break the sirens sounded. Immediately most of the vendors started packing their wares while other peeps stood around looking like deer in the headlights. I'm afraid we fell into the latter category as Shannon tried to call Steve to find out what was going on. We lost about ten minutes dilly-dallying around that may or may not have made a difference.
Finally we reached our cars parked blocks away in a garage at 10th & Jackson, said goodbye and headed off in different directions. In hindsight, I should have shot up Jackson and over to Dodge but instead I took 10th Street which was nearly at a standstill. You know that helpless feeling that something big is coming but you're a complete sitting duck unable to do anything about it? Yeah, that.
I live just off 46th & Dodge and my plan was to make it safely to my garage before all hell broke loose. I made it to 24th & Dodge before pulling off to the side near the Joslyn Art Museum, cutting the engine and turning on the hazards as many other cars in the area were doing. I thought to go inside the Joslyn (because what could be safer than a big pink marble building?) but it was around 5pm and unfortunately they closed at 4:00. Instead I hunkered down in my car listening to the radio saying that winds were strong enough to blow one over. I'd rather not get squished up against the side of the Joslyn like a bug but I guess if I had to die, there'd be no better place.
I have to admit it was really scary and loud there inside the car with the heavy rain, winds and hail beating down all around. My heart was pounding inside my chest and I was shaking a little. When it let up ten to fifteen minutes later (?) cars started moving forward again only to be stopped by deep rushing water at the 28th & Dodge intersection. A MAT bus was backing up off the on-ramp to the North Freeway. A MAT bus! Large SUVs were making it through but I wasn't sure what to do until I saw vehicles my size also making it through. Definitely one of those "Suck it up, Nicole, you're on your own now" moments. The water was probably up to the wheel wells but my trusty little Honda made it across only to get stopped repeatedly by fallen tree limbs in the street and traffic lights out. Greg called as I neared my place worried about me but I was frazzled and told him I'd call back when I got home. Unbeknownst to me he had gotten off work a little early and was safely at his place, jeep in the garage, when the storm hit.
Wakeley Street has never looked so good as I pulled into my space only to discover that the power was out so the garage door wouldn't open. Up at my place I had a very calming beer and cigarette only to discover that the phone lines were jammed. It was over an hour before I reached Greg again and rather innerving to have no form of communication or information during that time. I am ashamed at myself for not being more prepared, especially after being married to Survivorman for so long.
Stayed over at Greg's that night since he had power though mine came back on in the middle of the night sometime unlike others, my sister and Shannon included, who were out for days. Dundee and the whole midtown area looked like a warzone in the aftermath, downed trees, completely uprooted trees and smashed cars. Two people in Council Bluffs died as a result of both. My car sustained some minor hail damage which I'm having checked out on Monday. It's not that bad but I think I'd feel better getting it fixed, even if I have to meet my deductible first. That sure was an expensive trip to the Summer Arts Festival and I didn't even buy anything!
I keep thinking "what if?" as in "what if we had left a little quicker?", "what if I had taken a different route?", "what if I had stayed put?" but regardless the outcome might have been the same. Or even worse.
Per usual, I took half a day off so I could enjoy it before the crowds converged. Shannon met me downtown around 2:30 where we had a great time walking around, chatting and enjoying the art, atmosphere and warm but beautiful weather. Our plan was to check out every artists' booth before buying anything which we did, only stopping to grab a snack at the Whole Foods tent where I scored one of those cute bags with the purchase of a 75 cent coconut-flavored popsicle. During our short break the sirens sounded. Immediately most of the vendors started packing their wares while other peeps stood around looking like deer in the headlights. I'm afraid we fell into the latter category as Shannon tried to call Steve to find out what was going on. We lost about ten minutes dilly-dallying around that may or may not have made a difference.
Finally we reached our cars parked blocks away in a garage at 10th & Jackson, said goodbye and headed off in different directions. In hindsight, I should have shot up Jackson and over to Dodge but instead I took 10th Street which was nearly at a standstill. You know that helpless feeling that something big is coming but you're a complete sitting duck unable to do anything about it? Yeah, that.
I live just off 46th & Dodge and my plan was to make it safely to my garage before all hell broke loose. I made it to 24th & Dodge before pulling off to the side near the Joslyn Art Museum, cutting the engine and turning on the hazards as many other cars in the area were doing. I thought to go inside the Joslyn (because what could be safer than a big pink marble building?) but it was around 5pm and unfortunately they closed at 4:00. Instead I hunkered down in my car listening to the radio saying that winds were strong enough to blow one over. I'd rather not get squished up against the side of the Joslyn like a bug but I guess if I had to die, there'd be no better place.
I have to admit it was really scary and loud there inside the car with the heavy rain, winds and hail beating down all around. My heart was pounding inside my chest and I was shaking a little. When it let up ten to fifteen minutes later (?) cars started moving forward again only to be stopped by deep rushing water at the 28th & Dodge intersection. A MAT bus was backing up off the on-ramp to the North Freeway. A MAT bus! Large SUVs were making it through but I wasn't sure what to do until I saw vehicles my size also making it through. Definitely one of those "Suck it up, Nicole, you're on your own now" moments. The water was probably up to the wheel wells but my trusty little Honda made it across only to get stopped repeatedly by fallen tree limbs in the street and traffic lights out. Greg called as I neared my place worried about me but I was frazzled and told him I'd call back when I got home. Unbeknownst to me he had gotten off work a little early and was safely at his place, jeep in the garage, when the storm hit.
Wakeley Street has never looked so good as I pulled into my space only to discover that the power was out so the garage door wouldn't open. Up at my place I had a very calming beer and cigarette only to discover that the phone lines were jammed. It was over an hour before I reached Greg again and rather innerving to have no form of communication or information during that time. I am ashamed at myself for not being more prepared, especially after being married to Survivorman for so long.
Stayed over at Greg's that night since he had power though mine came back on in the middle of the night sometime unlike others, my sister and Shannon included, who were out for days. Dundee and the whole midtown area looked like a warzone in the aftermath, downed trees, completely uprooted trees and smashed cars. Two people in Council Bluffs died as a result of both. My car sustained some minor hail damage which I'm having checked out on Monday. It's not that bad but I think I'd feel better getting it fixed, even if I have to meet my deductible first. That sure was an expensive trip to the Summer Arts Festival and I didn't even buy anything!
I keep thinking "what if?" as in "what if we had left a little quicker?", "what if I had taken a different route?", "what if I had stayed put?" but regardless the outcome might have been the same. Or even worse.