Now: I have observed for some time how ambulance crews in the Springfield area approach intersections while on a run using lights and sirens. They will come to a full stop as they enter intersections with signal lights and then proceed as they determine it is safe. I have often thought they were taking caution to a bit of an extreme and a complete stop is not necessary. I also realize the few seconds they would gain by not stopping is more than worth avoiding an accident and possible injuries so I see their reasoning and agree.

Now for my trip to Oklahoma City this past week. I was sitting at a red light on a street that was six lanes wide. I hear a siren in the distance and begin looking for the source to see if I can move to make way for the emergency vehicle to make their trip safer. I soon see an ambulance approaching from a couple of blocks behind me. As all lanes are completely blocked by many cars there is nothing to be done but remain where I am. As the driver neared the stopped traffic in front of him he began driving in the oncoming lanes which were clear at the time because we have a red light. This is a common maneuver so I begin to watch the cross traffic to see if everyone is going to stop for the ambulance. Thankfully, they had.

Instead of rolling to a stop and then proceeding safely as I expected, this ambulance was apparently staffed by Bo and Luke Duke from Dukes of Hazard fame! They were traveling an estimated 60 MPH as they entered the intersection against a red light! I am not certain but I thought I saw a Confederate flag painted on the roof of the rig. I definitely saw the CB antenna waving back and forth. Bo (I know Bo was driving because I saw Luke's dark hair on the passenger side.) had to swerve that big unit four lanes to the right and exited the intersection on the right side of the road. It appeared for a moment the ambulance would actually get up on two wheels! With the skill of a Formula 1 driver he managed to keep the rig upright and straight as he continued down the busy street. I thought for a while I heard that famous Dixie horn blow in the distance! :-)

As our light turned from red to green, I heard Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane's voice say "Buckle up, Buddy Roe!" I checked my seat belt as I cautiously entered the intersection. The rest of my trip I kept looking for a white Jeep with very long legs and very short shorts, but to my dismay, Daisey Duke was nowhere to be found. :-(

Then: Back on The Hunky Place, it was the Fourth of July. I had begged my parents to take me to Monett to see the annual fireworks display and they had agreed. I was so excited. This would be my first time to see the public display. The day before, I became sick. I had suffered from several bouts of Tonsillitis as a child and, as it turned out, I had it again. By the evening of the fourth, I was quite ill and running a fever. So much for my trip to the fireworks. :-( I did discover I could see the high air bursts from my bedroom window even though it was six miles away. They were tiny in the distance but I was excited nonetheless. I did not realize it at the time, but the excitement was going to grow as the night went on.

Late that night it began to storm. It was a bad thunderstorm with heavy wind, rain and lightening. You must understand, in those days, there were no tornado sirens, storm warnings or even radio broadcasts because the local radio went off the air at midnight. The television stations also ceased broadcasting at night, not that it would matter to us because we would not own a TV (or Devil Box as it was called) for several more years. :-)

At some point, the storm became very violent and Dad decided we should take shelter in the storm cellar. It was one out in the yard like you see in the movies. You had to lift the door up and go down in the underground cellar. I always hated those things because they often leaked and had water in them. They were also usually crawling with spiders, mice and sometimes "SNEEKS!" HA Fortunately for us, the cellar was just outside the back door and someone had build a porch around it and a roof over the porch. Dad carried me, wrapped in a blanket, into the cellar with Mother. The storm grew stronger and then we heard this awful sound. It was a tornado! You could hear the roar of the funnel and then the crash of debris. I remember being so scared. It was over quickly and it grew quiet. Our house itself was not damaged much but the storm tore the porch roof off and collapsed it over our cellar door. Dad was able to crawl out and get us out. I was very glad to get back in my bed. That was enough excitement for one night for this little boy!

Now: The following is a conversation I overheard while in a men's room in a Wal-Mart in Oklahoma today. Bathroom humor is not my bag but this was too strange to ignore. I give you my word this is NOT made up. This is exactly what I heard with the exception of a few changes in order to avoid being TOO crude.

I was standing at the urinal doing what all guys do and what most old guys do slower. I began to hear some strange sounds coming from a nearby stall. I thought to myself "That poor guy." Suddenly, a voice said "I have used leaves before but I have never had to use my hand. This is AWFUL." I started to offer to get him some paper as soon as I was finished when I realized he was talking to someone on his cell phone.

He continued his conversation by saying "This is gross! I can't believe I am doing this." There was a long silence and he said "Hold on. I gotta lay the phone down so I can stand up. Oh YUCK!!" The sound of a monumental flush followed.

At this point, I lost track of his conversation because my heart is beating in my ears. I began praying in a panic, "God, please help me finish quickly because I don't want to see WHAT comes out of that stall!" I have to admit at this point, I did NOT wash my hands (I hope my dear RN wife will forgive me.) nor did I look back. I RAN out the door. I don't think I even looked in the mirror until I was several miles up I-44.

With apologies to my friends from Oklahoma, but I believe he was an OU fan.

Then: When I was in the third grade my parents bought a 20 acre farm east of Monett. It was in the Kings Prairie community and at that time, they still had a one room country school. It was one teacher and first thru sixth grades. The school was about three miles from our house. Often, several of the neighbor kids walked to school together. Yes, I walked three miles, in the snow, up hill both ways... :-)

One early summer day a storm was brewing when school got out. I had ridden my bike to school by myself so I headed home. Our route took us beside a power substation near the school. As I passed the substation a bolt of lightening struck one of the transformers! I did not think it was possible to burn rubber on a 20" bicycle but I believe I did! Every hair on my body stood on end and I raced home as fast as my little legs could pedal. I did not slow down until I was laying in a heap, exhausted, in the livingroom floor.

I think that might have been what prompted my interest in weather and watching the forecasts!! :-)