My Mom Continues to Be Awesome

Apologies for the all-caps.  She doesn't usually type in all caps, but my mom is 77 and I'm just glad she's no longer internet-averse, and I get a good note from her every now and then.  My mom is a fairly gentle Christian and a hard-core Republican, and mostly we don't talk about these things because we like each other too much.  Though she has, in her quiet way, made it clear to me that she'd love me if I was a devil-worshipper.  


Here is a Bodhisattva story about the Joplin Mo tornado.  

JERRY, WAS VISITING HIS  DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHO LIVE IN JOPLIN LAST SUNDAY.   AFTER CHURCH THEY DECIDED TO HAVE SUPPER AT I-HOP.  AS THEY SAT THERE JERRY, WHO LIVES IN TULSA, OKLA., LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW, STOOD UP AND SAID, 'FOLKS, WE HAVE TO FIND SHELTER RIGHT NOW.  THE STORM THAT'S COMING IS A REALLY BAD ONE."

THE MANAGER SAID, "WE HAVE A WALK-IN FREEZER.  LET'S ALL GET IN THERE."  SO JERRY AND FAMILY AND OTHER CUSTOMERS AND COOKS AND WAITRESSES ALL GOT IN THE FREEZER AND WAITED OUT THE SCREAMING, ROARING WINDS AND VIBRATIONS AND SHAKING.  WHEN IT ALL CALMED DOWN, THEY STEPPED OUT AND WERE OUTSIDE.  EVERYTHING AROUND WHAT HAD BEEN THE BUILDING WAS FLATTENED.  ALL OF THEIR CARS WERE PILED UP, TWISTED, AND DEMOLISHED.

JERRY'S GIRLS LIVE ON THE SIDE OF TOWN THAT WAS NOT HARMED BY THE TORNADOS; BUT GETTING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH NO CARS.  NOBODY WHO COULD WALK WAS COMPLAINING, THOUGH.

MARILYN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH SHE HAD BEEN BORN IN JOPLIN AND LIVED THERE MOST OF HER LIFE,  SHE WAS UNABLE TO ORIENT HERSELF TO ANY LOCATION IN ANY OF THE PHOTOS.  THERE ARE NO LANDMARKS, NO STREET SIGNS, NOTHING OF ANY DEGREE OF FAMILIARITY.  HER NIECES HAD INVITED HER TO COME DOWN FOR THE REUNION, BUT SHE HAD TO STAY HOME AND HELP OUT AT HER CHURCH AGAIN.  SHE SAID,  "IT SEEMS ODD THAT JERRY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT THERE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE PEOPLE."  

I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY ANYONE WOULD LIVE IN OKLAHOMA, BUT IN THIS CASE IT MAY HAVE BEEN SO HE COULD RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS COMING AND SOUND THE ALARM.

HERE'S HOPING THE WEATHER IS CONSIDERABLY CALMER WHERE YOU ARE.  LOVE,  MOM