"...where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain."

A couple of blocks west of Oak Park Avenue, between 171st and 173rd Streets. August 23, 1956.

My dad did one thing before he died that he shouldn't have done. He had a house built for him and my mom without a basement. Ever since we were kids I remember my mom being very afraid of tornadoes, and at the slightest hint of a storm we were always herded into the basement. Now my mom has to sweat it out every time there's a warning. There would be only one problem even if she did have a basement now. Her Hoveround wouldn't navigate those stairs very well.

I feel so bad for anybody who has to live through such a natural disaster. Hurricanes are bad enough, but at least we have ample warning. I have witnessed two tornadoes that hit my home town of Tinley Park, and I have to say they are a powerful sight. Beautiful, and terrifying at the same time. Hopefully our stubborn legislators won't screw around with the poor folks in Oklahoma, and make sure they get relief a bit faster than they did for New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy.