Last time I checked, my name wasn't Dorothy....

 I will not say that I'm psychic.  Perhaps I just have a "sixth" sense about things.  Or maybe it's just this totally irrational fear that something bad is always going to happen (because, quite frankly, in MY world, when it rains is pours).

Per previous post (S.O.S.!!!), I was in a state of terrorized panic because I was leaving both of my children alone for 3 days, so my husband and I could venture off on a trip to Las Vegas.  This was the first time in 4 years that we'd actually been ALONE, anywhere.

Initially, I was elated.  Overjoyed.  Intoxicated with my excitement.  Then, a mere 24 hours pre-departure, I began to hyperventilate.  I was filled with apprehension.  I had this horrific sensation burning deep into my soul that something would happen while we were away.

Now, I know most of you moms are thinking that this is a totally normal state of mind when we leave our children for an extended period of time.  Without boring you with graphic detail of my adventures in travel, I will just run a few choice phrases by you that apply to trips that we have taken over the years..............Hurricane Frances, stranded on a cruise ship outside of Cuba, missed flights, near death experience on the 405 freeway thanks to a spun out taxi cab (that we were actually IN), sleeping on the floor of the Denver airport (twice in the same weekend!!), Salmonella poisoning.............you get the idea.

Something, inevitably, goes wrong.  It's actually become a joke between dear hubby and I......"what are we going to endure this time??!"  ((ha ha))

Never.  Ask.  That.  Question.

Imagine sitting poolside, enjoying the sunny, 80-degree weather......and a cocktail or 2........listening to the loud music being blared through 87 different speakers and all the girls in string bikinis who look like they eat nothing but a carrot every 8 days and clearly invested heavily into saline.................

Wait, sorry.  Random tangent.

Anyway............. try to envision the extreme fright of checking your cell phone, only to find 12 missed text messages and phone calls, mostly from your friends and family on the west coast (where you used to live) about the tornadoes ransacking the east coast (where you currently live).   

Yep.  Soak it in.

I couldn't get through to our babysitter immediately due to all the phone lines being jammed and destroyed by strong winds, but, long story short......a tornado, taking on a path of 65 miles total, passed through our town, missing our home by a few miles............. 
Keep soaking.

Clearly, we are all fine.  And healthy.  And lucky.  The kids are none the wiser.  Our babysitter did an EXCELLENT job of setting up a "safe room" in our house and making it seem like a camping experiment.  We are blessed with good friends who came over to check on everyone, and everything, in the aftermath.  Despite several, intense panic attacks, I am still alive.  And typing.

But, really.......when will a simple "vacation" be a simple "vacation" ?!?!  I feel I should just omit the word RELAXATION from my vocabulary.  Permanently.



(image credit......sustainabilityninja.com)