Almost all of us can provide details about what we were doing when we learned of the tornado heading towards Tuscaloosa that afternoon, and everyone can recall their initial reactions after learning of the devastation that came as a result of the storm. This is a brief yet true story about the morning of April 27, 2011.

I'm preparing my news casts and gathering forecast information from James Spann.

"These are the weather cuts fffooorrr Wednesday, April 27........." He goes on to give a very EXTENDED forecast.

"Geez, James. You know I only have 20 seconds. Could you have shortened that a bit?" I think to myself while editing the recording to fit my time constraints. Oddly, I notice a bit more alarm in his voice than usual. It makes me nervous. I decide to pay more attention to what he's saying than I normally do.

I go on and complete my normal tasks, and other coworkers start arriving.

"You know they say we're going to get some rough weather this afternoon, right?"

"Yep."

"Are you going to stay and help us out?"

"Nope. I'm on partial maternity leave. I'm about to go take care of my baby and my mom. It's enough of y'all here to handle it."

Yeah, I have a little attitude on display. I mean, did anybody come in early to help me cover the events of the morning? Right now, my responsibility to my daughter is more important to me than the responsibility of the workplace. (Where was Beyonce when I needed her? If "I'm Not Sorry" had been out back then, I would have sang, danced, and everything as I walked out the door and to my car.)

I get back to my mom's and she hands me my baby.

"You know they're saying it's supposed to get bad today."

"Yeah, I know. If it does, what do you want me to do?" Remember, she's recuperating from a hip replacement. So, she'll undoubtedly need help moving to a safe place.

"Don't worry about me.  I'll get to where I need to be.  You just take care of you and the baby."

"We're going to be good, I'm going to grab my baby and we're going to be in the fireplace."

"The fireplace, Jade."

"Yep. Whenever a storm destroys a home, what's left? It's always the bottom part of the chimney.... And a toilet.  On second thought, maybe I'll cover her and we'll ball up beside the toilet in the back bathroom." Of course, I'm joking. I just don't do well with serious situations. I mean, I take them seriously. I just don't really show when I'm afraid or nervous. Now that I think of it, I don't usually display much emotion unless I'm extremely happy and excited or so upset that I start to cry. If you ever witness THAT, close the piano; it's time to go.

After my mom is assured I'll be taking care of my baby, she leaves me to pump and take a nap.

I wake up and turn on the tv. Every station has wall-to-wall weather coverage. The power goes out. Odd because at this time, there was no rain or wind. I go outside and the only way I can describe the atmosphere is "eerie."  It's almost as if time is standing still and I'm the only person on the face of the earth who is moving.  There are no birds flying or even singing, I hear no traffic or anybody doing anything.

I go back inside. I look at my precious child who's already gone through a lot and vow that I would do all that I could to protect her. I then fall on my knees and begin to pray. When I tell you I'm BEGGING God for protection and pleading with Him to change the direction of the wind....

I pray for a good five minutes. Don't judge me. That's how God and I get down.  I tell Him my request and how bad I want it, and then I listen to see what He has to say. I'm like that with people too.  I ask for what I want and indicate my degree of urgency. I then listen for a response and decide what my next course of action will be. It's that simple.

With no electricity and a sleeping newborn, I'm bored.  I decide to go outside again.  Still eerie.  However, other neighbors must be bored, too. A few more are outside. One comes out and says, "It's gone. It's all gone."

"What's gone?"

"Everything. All down by Stillman College is completely destroyed. A tornado wiped out that whole area."

I start to feel extremely sad. Not STILLMAN! Stillman is a part of my life story.

He continues, "Yep. Stillman is gone! The tornado came on up 15th Street and then it cut across Greensboro Avenue. It's now on Skyland, and it's headed this way! We need to be taking cover."

Now, how he knows this (which he obviously didn't), I don't know. What I do know is that I need to have another conversation with God. "Now, Lord, I thought I asked you to turn the wind. How are you going to send it straight towards me? You know I have this baby and just got her home. Can I at least have a little time to enjoy it? If you let us make it through this, I promise......" (You know how it goes. I don't even know the promise I made in that moment except that I would do my best to live right. I think I've held up my end quite well.)

Guess what He said. Absolutely nothing.

Well, I thought He'd said nothing until hours went by and I realize nothing had come our way.  I reach for my phone to check on loved ones, but I can't make a call.  I then decide to go to check on my house only to become aware that downed trees prevent me from leaving the neighborhood for a while. So, I talk to my mom until a little time passes and we are able to leave.

Apparently, pandemonium had ensued because as soon as I get a phone signal, I receive a call from the radio station.

"Hello?"

"How many people are dead?"

I JUST finished talking to God a little while ago, I have to remind myself. "Excuse me?"

"Do you not know what's going on?"

"Look! I'm on maternity leave, and I have been without electricity AND phone service for hours. So, NO! I don't know what's going on!"

Click.

Oh, no this..... I call back.

"What is your problem? Why did you hang up on me? I'm asking you what's going on!"

"The tornado came through and tore up Rosedale. A lot of people are dead. That's what's going on! A lot of people are dead!"

"And you fault me for not knowing that when I was detached from all communication?"

"You should NEVER be without a form of communication. Ever!"

 

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