We should have paid more attention to the weather soundings and forecasts. 

No, instead, we were more concerned about getting the car packed for our upcoming trip to see Aunt Edna and Uncle Steve, who lived a few hours away. 

The skies that morning gave no inkling whatsoever what would transpire later that afternoon or evening.  It was rather windy (not to mention, oppressively humid), but we gave little thought of it: the skies were clear with nary a cloud in sight.  The sun burned hot; it was only the middle of May but it felt more like July.

Around noon, twelve thirty, we piled into the car: me, my husband, and our three kids, ages 5, 4, and 3.  Even our chocolate colored Pomeranian, Dipsy, came along for the ride; he always enjoyed going with us wherever we went.

We then started on our way. 

Within an hour after we had left the house, we noticed clouds building up to the south, southwest.  They were small, innocent looking puffy cotton balls; we didn't really give it much thought.  The air continued to be stifling hot, but thanks to air conditioning roaring at the highest speed, we didn't realize just how humid it was getting.  By now, the kids were getting hungry, so we decided to pull into an IHOP to eat lunch. 

Not even fifteen minutes after we'd arrived, Jim (husband) looked at the clouds.  They were increasing in number and were turning from white to a pearlescent color.  They soon eclipsed what blue was left in the sky; it looked like we might have rain in a few hours.  I'd also heard someone say that our area had been placed under a tornado watch until 11 this evening; it was 12:15 now.

I shrugged it off; we had been through tornado watches before, but nothing had really materialized.  Maybe this would be another false alarm, I told Jim.  Why should this time be any different?

~To be continued!~