T-Town, Never Down

I haven’t wanted to write in a while, and to be honest I still don’t have the right words now.

Today is April 27, 2012; one year ago was April 27, 2011, a day this city will never forget.

I remember every detail of that day before the storm; it was all so important at the time.

It began as a beautiful Wednesday of dead week (much too aptly named in this case).

I went to El Rincon for an end-of-the-year lunch with my indoor rock climbing class. 

I ate huevos rancheros and paid full price (for the first time ever) for a margarita.

I returned to my second-floor apartment off 15th St. to nap until my 3:30 class.

I couldn’t fall asleep, so I grabbed my finance book to start studying for finals.

I made Scotty come out in the living room to watch James Spann with me.

The weather looked scary; we waited for the University to cancel classes.

I didn't want to move from the couch to go to finance and econometrics.

I didn't expect Tuscaloosa to be hit; it is just not something you expect.

Jonathan came over, and we decided to skip still-not-canceled classes.

The University sent an e-mail (I still think too late) canceling classes.

Then the tornado touched down; it was so close but a world away.

James Spann warned us to take cover, and we were all scared.

I nervously moved to the dining room, far from the windows.

Scotty, much braver than me, looked out those windows.

He saw the tornado that was on TV outside, too close.

He said we should run, but I was in utter shock.

 I couldn't fully grasp the storm's imminence.

 I put on shoes and locked the front door.

We sprinted to the nearby clubhouse.

We joined neighbors in a closet.

We closed the door behind us.

The air pressure changed.

We braced ourselves.

The tornado passed.

We had survived.

We walked out.

Devastation.

Disbelief.

4/27/11.