A Storm chaser's dream
By: Joey'sCuz
R&R
I heard some strange noises coming from above the clouds. It almost sounded like jet engines. In our small town, we don't really get weather reports, we are lucky if we even have a television. So as I was standing outside I saw this tornado touch down. I stand there mesmerized as the hail begins to fall. The wind picks up and it starts to make me wonder. Is this the work of god or of the devil? I watched as it tore through the town throwing the debris as it spun along. I watched it tear through houses and ruin the landscaping around us making a line where ever it went. I watched as it ran through the town as I was safely away from it. I looked over the land it destroyed and was hooked.
It has been 23 years since that day. I am now 28 year old tornado chaser. I am mainly a tornado chase amongst the few of storm chasers around me. I followed the storm wanting to look at it outside and inside. I wanted to feel the rush of it; I know how to stay safe in the eye of a tornado. As of now I am standing about 20 miles away from an F5 tornado, one of the only ones that most people see and live to speak about. Most of the time when people see a F5 tornado, it's too late. I don't run from them I run to them. I watch as this tornado spun in about one mile radius and about 85 miles per hour. I could sit feel the wind on my face even from this far away. It was a strong one that was for sure. I watched it about five miles back before and it sucked up a house and spit it back out as if it were nothing. I didn't know what is was but ever since that day a storm or tornado has always fascinated me. I always felt a weird sense of comfort come from the storm, and the trill of the chase.
"Tristan, Come on we got to get going it is coming this way, it will be here in a matter of minutes." I looked at my associate.
"Let it come, I will be okay I just want to stand here a little longer." I said as he packed everything up along with the rest of the crew. I smiled as a couple of minutes later I walked over and got in the passenger's side of the car. We drove off and I smiled at the twister behind us. I faced forward and sighed as we head off to the laboratory.
"Tristan you okay?" My associate asked as we turned the corner.
"Yeah I just wish I understood the tornado better then I do now." I said as we drove off. I looked at him and smiled. "Do you know how I started wanting to become a storm chaser?" He shook his head. I smiled and told him the story of that one day when I was out in my small country farm home, and the storm tore through. I stopped my finished my story and he looked at me as everyone pulled into a truck stop about 50miles from the tornado.
"Man Tristan that's sweet. How long did it last?"
"About ten minutes tops." I said as he and I walked into the truck stop.
Yeah it was short but cool at the same time.
