The state of New Mexico, is divided right down the center (north and south) by the Rio Grande river, which flows from someplace in Colorado down through New Mexico and into Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.  Albuquerque is pretty much divided in half by the river.  The west side and the east side of the river. 

In 2012, and in my 67 years of living in Albuquerque, I have never seen a tornado here.  We don't get hurricanes here, either.  Lightning strikes all over the world and does not discriminate, and of all the forces of nature, I think lightning is the most dangerous and the most frightning!  And, those are the two subjects of this article...tornadoes and lightning!  Eastern New Mexico (bordering Texas and Oklahoma) does get a few tornadoes once in awhile. 

The Rocky Mountains begin someplace on the northern side of the state of Wyoming and run all the was through the state of Colorado and the entire state of New Mexico and into the state of Texas.  Because of this, New Mexico and the city of Albuquerque are protected from the dangerous tornadoes that strike the mid-west. 

On the eastern city limits, stand the Sandia Mountains (Spanish for watermellon) which rise to a height of 10,600 feet, and support the highest tramway in North America.  The mountains are located on the north side of I-40.  On the south side of I-40, are the Manzano mountains which stand over 8,000 feet and protect us as well. 

Well, if you have all this protection from the mountains...how have you witnessed a tornado?  How do you have any experience with the fury of a tornado? 

In 1965, and at the age of 20, entered the US Air Force, and I did my bootcamp at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas.  When my bootcamp was complete two months, I headed to school located in Amarillo, Texas, which is located on the flatlands in northern Texas!  This town is where I witnessed a tornado...up close and personal!  I was scared to death that day...a day I will never forget!

There were about 30 airman in class one day, and it was raining outside.  The cloud cover got heavier and started raining harder and then it turned to hail.  It was about 2;30 in the afternoon...and in a matter of a few seconds...it got pitch black outside, and hail was about to break the windows, etc.  It was as if the sun had set...total darkness!  Obviously, everyone in the class was frightened...and we all didn't what to do!  The center of the tornado, hit a little town near the base, named Canyon, Texas...thank God...we were spared! 

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It was the middle of the afternoon, and about 6 of us were sitting around the table in the dining room, having a meeting at the VA Medical Center.  It was raining outside, and the wind was blowing and heavy clouds were all around the area.  Suddenly, and without warning, we all were startled by a deafening huge BOOM...and a crack of thunder!  We all must have been scared about a foot off our chairs!  In a few seconds, and as we looked outside the front window of the dining room...branches were falling off the tree outside!  Lightning hit the tree outside and ripped it apart, just under our noses!  We all rushed to the front door (foolishly) and looked out at the tree, as a few branches fell off the tree, and the big surgical split in the tree! 

None of us had ever witnessed the strike of lightning before, and we were all frightened!  We all went outside, to see the damage to the tree!  Bark was ripped off the tree by the lightning...and pieces scattered all over the place!  For about 30 yards out from the tree...bark was scattered and shattered by the lightning!  Some of the pieces of the bark were about the size of a football.  We all just looked at each other...we couldn't believe lighting had struck the tree!  I will never forget that day, as long as I live! 

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I live in the southeast heights of Albuquerque near the mountains.  On the west side of Albuquerque, stand three volcanoes, which experts say they are dead!  Do I believe the experts?  Not on your life!  These so-called experts CANNOT predict the forces of nature...period!  I have never witnessed a volcano, but people in the northwest part of the country have!  (Mt. St. Helens) 

The three volcanos are located just walking distance to the river, with a major highway in the middle.  Three housing sub-divisions are all along the highway...Westgate Heights; Volcano Cliffs; Tayor Ranch and Paradise Hills.  All located on the foothills of these volcanes!  If one of these volcanoes blows...you can imagine the disaster! 

With an earthquake hitting the east coast in 2011, and even damaging the Washington Monument...anything is possible!  I live about 20 miles across the river from the volcanoes, and I don't consider myself safe...if one of these volcanoes blows...well...I just hope and pray it doesn't happen...

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Copyright; Jerry Aragon; 2012; The Humor Doctor