Tornado on the Horizon



It was Palm Sunday: April 11, 1965.

Huge chunks of hail hit the windows; then stillness.

I accepted the silence as just another warmer weather phenomenon. I became one with my Sunday afternoon nap.



The children, however, could not keep from running to the lake's edge and dipping toes, or two, or all, in the still too-cold water.



Later, 'someones' were shaking me and shouting in excitement. "Mom, people are saying that a tornado hit on the other side of the lake and in town. We actually saw a bench lifting over the lake and landing on our beach! Can we keep it, Mom?" "Unless a person claims it, of course!!" I sorted through the voices. My newly opened eyes counted their owners. My children were all safe.



It was on Monday that we heard that six Crystal Lake residents had been killed from Nature's torment.

After the bodies were recovered, my high-school son helped clear the debris of wood, brick, and belongings.

No one claimed the bench.



The lake water became warmer with the summer season and more than toes were dipped. My Sunday naps were never again victims of such momentous awakenings.



January, 2007

Winifred O'Reilly