Freakish Weather Deja vu

Despite the God-awful heat and humidity here in the Summer the weather here in Amishland is usually not that extreme. It get's cold in the winter; but much colder other places. It does get hot here in the summer; but there's often brief respites. This past week was one of extremes and some 'freakish' local weather.

I woke up on Wednesday morning and noticed there was some dusting of snow on the car. After showering I went downstairs and turned on the TV. The weatherman was on. He announced that the area had anywhere from a trace to a surprise foot of snow overnight. I thought, wow, wonder where they got a foot fo snow? He went on, 'that occured in ******, a town in my work area. Barely ten miles from my home. WTF?

He went on to explain that is was an unusual 'convective cell' that just hung in one place for a while much like a thunderstorm in the summer. Very strange as two local school districts cancelled classes for the day; everywhere else was fine. On the morning drive over to check on my mom I noticed the snow just seemed to get deeper and deeper. Mom lives about three miles from me in that direction.

Yesterday there was an article in the local paper about the strange storm. A meteorologist from a local university was quoted in the article as saying in his opinion was one of the five 'all-time' weather events to ever hit this county. He went on to list the other four. This 'freakish winter storm,' Hurricane Agnes in 1972, the blizzard of 96, some other blizzard, and the Millersville Tornado of 89.

Guess what? I'm the one that took the picture that was carried nationally by the Associated Press of the 'Millersville Tornado of '89.' I noted who wrote the article for the paper.

Guess what? I hooked a box up for him one time in his home as his Cable guy. Is this town too small or what?

Earlier this evening I looked to see if the newspaper writer's number was in the phone book. I knew where he lived, ya know? It was. I called him and asked him how to contact the meteorologist as I would be happy to share a copy of the picture of that storm with him. He took my number; told me he would contact him. He told me he didn't have his number at home, it was at work and he wouldn't be there again until Monday. I told him okay, thanked him for his help and said good-night.

Not five minutes later my phone rang. I could tell from the caller-ID it was the newspaper man calling back. I answered the phone with a quick, 'hello.' He began, 'I just got a call from a guy who claims to have taken a picture of the tornado of '89...I didn't get a chance to check it all out at the office...' Then I stopped him. I knew he thought he was talking to the meteorologist.

I said, 'Sir, this is Chris. The one you just talked to one the phone. The photo was carried nationally by the Associated Press. I am sure your records at the office will confirm this and I will confirm for you that what I am telling you is true. I just want to share the picture with the guy if he wants it.'

He laughed and apologized. He had the meteorologist's number at home. It is unlisted and he had the two of them together and called the wrong one.

How funny is that?

It was a brutally cold week here in the northeast but looks like Spring-feel weekend.

I just might have to go somewhere.

Hope you all have a good Spring-feel weekend, too.

'night