Sometimes I need a wake up call!

[Ohiocat]

Sometimes I wonder - now what was I really thinking.....

Heres the deal.  

Today I was working on the opposite side of town than I normally work.  And I had to leave on time in order to drive home to opposite side,  then round up one of the cats, and drive back the same way - but only about half way back to get the cat to the vet.

So I finished work, left on time, and drove home.  Got home in about 30 mins, and had about 25 minutes to wait before I needed to leave to give myself a half hour to get to the vet.   (Side note: I had to wear my sunglasses on the drive home, due to how sunny it was)

So in the waiting time, I changed clothes and read for a bit.   (note - no tv on at the time or radio)

Gathered up the cat and took cat and carrier to the car.  Open up the garage door and realized I did not need the sunglasses, since it was turning dark  (i did not realize it was not time for it to be getting dark yet).  Back out the car, and realize the darkness was because of rain clouds  -  hmmm these clouds did not look so good.  And the wind seems to be kicking up a lot of leaves at the moment.

Before i even get the car out of the driveway, it started to sprinkle and then really rain.   But I was focused.... had to get the cat to the vet for a thyroid blood test.

More wind blowing and rain as I head down the street.  Make the first turn and then decided to turn on the radio in the car.

Just in time to hear.... something like.....- "so you need to take shelter immediately, because we have a tornado warning!"

WHOA - a tornado warning and it is pouring rain and I am out in the car about to drive for at least 20 mins!
I knew I did not like the looks of those clouds!  And here I am in the car with a crying cat (cat always crys when in the carrier).

OKAY - wake up  -   pay attention,    Turn around the car, head back home and call to cancel the appointment.

And that is exactly what I did.   I got home, grabbed all the cats and headed down to the basement.  Got the TV running and found that the major part of the storm was currently between these two streets -  (one of the north of me, the other south of me) and that it was very bad on --- hmm - the street i was just heading to travel on!  

But now I wonder what would have happend if I had left just 10 minutes before that,  I would have driven right into the storm.
And shelter would have been too far away.

I was so focused on getting that cat to vet, I ignored the fact that I did not like the way the clouds looked.  Sometimes I think I just need to wake up and pay more attention to things!

Spent about a half hour in the basement,   the storm passed quickly and no damage around me.
So afterall, all is well.   Me and the cats are all doing fine,  and I have a new appointment with the vet - the office was very understanding when I called to cancel.

Still - what was I thinking ------  Did I need a tree to fall on me to wake up???

[Meld256]

Thank goodness you and the cats are alright! I can relate to the "what am I doing" thing. My state of confusion lately has been one of the most aggravating parts of being ill. I used to be very focused and even efficient; that is part of the past.

At least you got back ok and you didn't have any problems. Sometimes we need to give ourselves a break.

[Bucky]

Wow Ohiocat  - bet that was scary once you realized what was going on.  Thankfully, you were close enough to home that you got turned around and headed to safety.

Glad to hear things are well in your home tonight. 

Bucky

[Ohiocat]

This morning on the news, they are showing pictures of the damage of the storm, mostly trees down or pieces of them broken off and down.  Still there are houses without electricity.


The timing of the storm   - coming through at 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm,  (which was exactly the time frame i was going to travel since my appointment was at 5:30)

The path of the storm - exactly the route from my house to the vet  (well the storm was traveling from the vet area to my house and I want to go exactly the opposite direction).


I was so very lucky - after I finally "woke up" to the fact that getting the cat to the vet was NOT the most important thing to do.     

The lesson for me - pay attention to what your gut says (i knew those clouds did not look good).  And don't allow the pressures of thinking you just HAVE to be somewhere for an appointment, get in the way of keeping yourself safe.

And last lesson, with the crazy weather we are having - pay more attention to listening to the tv or radio.  Tornados are normally a spring thing and not a fall thing.  Which can make me forget that these type of storms can happen in the fall. But right now it is unusually warm and storms can kick up very very quickly.

It may be officially fall now, but we are definitely having hot summer time weather still.

[Bucky]

Ohiocat - we're having the hot weather w/pop up storms here too in Central IL.  Today, it's suppose to be in the low 90's.  Ugh!

I have always kept my eyes to the clouds when the weather starts changing.  I know that feeling of "hmmm, things don't look so good . . . wonder what's up?".  I would say in the last 10 years I get these almost panic like attacks when the clouds start to darken knowing something is looming in the atmosphere.

Two years ago on my way back to IL from visiting family in Ohio, we hit a storm head-on in IN.  Went from bright sunshine into very, very dark clouds.  Very intense rain that even the fastest setting on the windshield wipers didn't help.  Couldn't see the road and not sure exactly "where" the road was.  Didn't dare pull off for fear we would be caught in a flash flood or hit from behind.  Just kept on driving very, very slowly.  We finally drove out of it, but those tense 10-15 minutes of white knuckle, holding onto the steering wheel, hands sweating moments were exhausting.  Of course, I was driving!!   

Rain-X on the windshield does help - the water just beads off.  We always apply that before we travel.  In that intense of rain - it didn't matter what you used - it wasn't enough!   

Ohiocat, I think from now on you WILL be more alert.  That ordeal gave you a wake-up call.

Glad you and your family were safe in the storm and no damage for you.

Which part of Ohio are you in?  I can't remember . . . Akron or Cleveland?  My family is from the Chagrin Valley area.

Bucky

[Pisces24]

Oh I understand Focused. My friends know if they see me in the store, etc. they need to Come Over and say HI. If they just say hi from a distance I never notice them.

They've told me Elvis could walk by me naked and I'd never notice. LOL