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Saturday was supposed to be the end of the world, according to Harold Camping and Family Radio. It was supposed to be the Rapture. You know. The one from the Bible?We invited our neighbors over that night to grill turkey dogs and salmon patties, and we mused about how six o'clock came and went without a single natural disaster. We laughed about how the clouds were rolling in from the west. Maybe that's it! The end of the world!It started to sprinkle, and our neighbors went home. Charlotte went to bed while Marc and his friend plotted a sleepover that night. We gave in and let them camp out on the living room floor with the understanding that at 10:30 we'd be watching Saturday Night Live. Don't like it? Don't care. I'm the mom. Ha!It was the end of the world, and we were snuggled up watching SNL. Justin Timberlake was the host. He makes me giggle.But our show was interrupted. The sprinkles outside turned to raindrops, and with the clouds came lighting and thunder. Our television was soon taken over by Gary Lezak and Brian Busby. Glowing red polygons filled the screen showing the end of the world.The worst of the storms were in Kansas. I was so annoyed. I was missing Lady Gaga!"Maybe it really is the end of the world," I said."Mom," said Marc. "Is it really the end of the world?" Oops. Be careful what you say in front of children. They don't always understand when you're joking. I tried to explain what the red areas on the weather map meant."Is Belton in the red part of the map?" he asked. Belton, MO, is where his dad lives. I told him no, that his dad was safe. Marc's friend asked if it was safe in the town where her mother lives, and I said yes. Her mother would be fine. We left the weather on for a while and both kids fell asleep. I went to bed annoyed that I missed SNL.The next morning I saw in the news that a volcano erupted in Iceland.I saw later that evening that Joplin had been torn apart by a tornado.Now, it takes me a while for trauma to hit. I've lived through some very traumatizing experiences myself, and my brain just tends to ignore these things while processing them in the background. Everytime I heard about Joplin my mind moved on to something nicer. I spent a good part of Monday pretending it didn't happen. But it didn't take long before I admitted to the reality.It was the end of the world.I'm pretty sure that Iceland is okay. I haven't followed up on that story. But Joplin is not okay. I read that this is the most devastating tornado since 1950. People and pets are homeless and struggling. Businesses and livelihoods are destroyed. At last report, 122 have been killed.For the people of Joplin, the end of the world came on May 22rd, 2011.How does this effect me as a mother? It effects me as a mother because my son asked if his father was okay. My son's friend asked if her mother was okay. In Joplin, someone's mother or father are not okay. Right now, I sit here typing this listening to the storm outside my window. I'm thinking about the children of Joplin, because being a mother doesn't just mean giving birth. When you're a mother, you are changed inside. The mother in me is thinking about the children of Joplin, and hoping they are getting the help they need, crying inside that she can't be there with them.I urge all of you who are reading this to consider taking the time and effort to help our friends to the south. Donate money, supplies, drive down there and help, do anything that you can do. I'll be rounding up some toiletries and non-perishables to send.The end of the world can mean so many things. I mean no disrespect to Mr. Camping or his followers, but even though fire didn't fall from the sky, many people's worlds ended Saturday. Let's come together as a community and help them build a new one.
Yesterday, we cleaned out our closets to send clothes to Joplin and I dropped off a big box of food. It's wonderful to see our community mobilize to help another. There are drop off sites all over the city. I am so sad for the residents of Joplin.It's overwhelming to see and hear all the stories and pictures, yet I can't stay away. Weird to go on with regular daily activities. When I pause and look for the good, I see SO MUCH good in people right now. Disaster brings out the best in many, many people and this disaster is no exception. It's beautiful to be a part of this, even amidst the pain.Well written. Just FYI, though, the authorities are discouraging people from driving down to help, because of shortages of shelter, food, water and gasoline along with communication issues, because so many cellphone towers were destroyed.Thanks for writing this - I've been trying to put my feelings into words & my thoughts are all scrambled. There is a moving article written by J.J. Hollars in today's paper: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/24/2901285/thoughts-from-tuscaloosa-to-the.html As I type this, our sirens are going off.I'm glad you wrote this. I have been thinking about the mothers and children, too. Last night, I admittedly panicked when the storms were moving through and I lost TV signal to local channels. (I usually never even think about checking on things unless sirens go off... much less panic at thunder.) I held both of my boys a little longer last night... I've been thinking about things I can send down when my dad does get the call from the Red Cross to go, too.
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