Allow me to detail a very unhappy experience. Not one of the worst in my life -- not by a long shot. However, it's still pretty bad, and I'm sure some day I will look back and laugh at today. But right now, I don't feel like laughing.
As the Headline states, It's a Twista. That's right, tornados.
I live in a dorm. I'm supposed to call it a "Residence Hall" because, (as my bosses like to repeat as they brainwash me) "A dorm is a place where people sleep. A Residence Hall is a place where students continue their education outside the classroom." Like I said, I live in a dorm. I am one of the RA's (resident assistant) in my dorm. I'm the oldest -- I'm only a month younger than my boss. I've been an RA the longest. I'm also one of the only ones here this weekend. This means I'm in charge at my building. (The RC, my boss, is gone for the weekend)
When the alarms go off, everyone has to come down to the first floor and crowd into the hallways. I shut the safety doors to keep glass from flying down the hallways, just in case there is a tornado. We then have to stay in the hallways until the police department calls me and gives me the "all-clear".
Have you ever tried to keep 150+ college kids (age 19-22) in a hallway when they don't want to stay? It isn't easy. They don't like to listen, and they want to do things "their way", despite the fact that "their way" could get them killed.
I finally found a way to keep them in the hallways. Down my hall, I pulled my TV in the hallway and put in Shrek. Down the other hall, I got a resident to pull their TV out and watch Princess Bride. This kept the kiddies entertained.
But then there are the ones who are freaking out. They are very afraid they are going to die. They worry about their parents, their friends, their everyone. I can't say that I blame them. I had two friends killed in a tornado when I was in the seventh grade. I understand their concern.
I also understand the ones who like to "storm chase". Twister was one of my favorite movies growing up. I was actually watching it when the tornado ripped apart the downtown section of my hometown. The electicity went out as we were rewinding the movie. My parents and I drove to town to return the movie and arrived just in time to hear that the town was gone. My father drove back to town to rescue people from their homes. He searched the trailer park where my friends were found.
But I digress. I have students running outside, watching the skies, taking photos and video of swirling clouds. I also have a few of them playing frisbee in the rain. I have no ability to keep them indoors. Yet, if they get killed, my butt is in a sling. Argh.
For now, the storm has passed, though I've been instructed to stay put for another round this afternoon.
I'm not afraid of dying in the storm. I'm afraid of killing one of the kiddies because they're driving me nuts. Or, I'm afraid they'll kill me in an attempt to kill themselves. Pray for me.