Our Temporary Home

We Kansans learn early what to do in case of a tornado.

Go to the basement. If you don't have a basement, go to a small interior room. Crawl under something large and flat, to disperse debris if the house falls around you. Don't stay in a car if you are driving.

We learn to hate The Wizard of Oz because that's the knee-jerk image everyone outside of Kansas has of the state, and because we know that unlike Dorothy and Toto, those caught in a tornado often do not live happily ever after.

But we also know that if you're smart and careful and pay attention to the warnings, even in Kansas you are unlikely to be hurt by a tornado simply because tornadoes usually hit where there are no people.

Last night I watched the news reports out of Joplin with increasing horror. This morning I stepped outside into the cool, dewy morning, and checked on my flowers. The geraniums need to be dead-headed, the irises are winding down, and the mint is taking over the garden. Still, I am thankful, and praying for those who have lost flowers, homes, and loved ones.

We are just passing through.