Twisterversary

Any and all St. Peterites who are bloggers will surely have an entry today commemorating the March 29, 1998, tornado that played Tiddlywinks with our little town. It's windy this afternoon but a clear and dry day. Ten years ago the tropical, un-Minnesota-like March weather set the stage for weeks, months, and even years of misery for some residents.

For posterity--or at least for as long as this blog is up and running--we were in the basement when the storm hit. "We" included Dad/Larry and me, Perry (Annie's pet parakeet), Charlie (just home for spring break), and Annie (just back from a Project Close-Up trip to Washington, D.C., and planning to go on a date with Tanner that evening). We watched KEYC TV weather radar show the tornado cells creeping along Highway 99, and tried to fool ourselves into thinking St. Peter would be spared. Not so. Elisabeth and one of her med school friends rushed to St. Peter after hearing the news, and because Elisabeth's driver's license had our home address, the two of them were able to get past the police checkpoint and into town. Coincidentally, all three of our kids are at home today, as are Tanner, Angie, Hannah, and Miles. Evan hung back in North Carolina, because duty called. We were fortunate to sustain only minimal damage to our house, but we lost most of the trees in the back yard. Small potatoes compared to some of our friends and neighbors, including the Grimmius family, whose home was a total loss. Don't worry, Miles. They rebuilt so there would be a place for you to visit...which you are doing today!

The Gustavus tornado commemoration website has pictures and video for anyone who is interested. And, if you prefer a lighter touch, here's the tornado souvenir my brother Mike made for us back in '98.