Still here

It's been one year since tornadoes ravaged the state of Alabama.

One year since towns were leveled. Lives were lost.

Towns that only happen to be 10 miles away from where I live. That's how close it came.

I wrote last year about the events of that day. How mom was here and the whole state shut down and braced itself for the worst. You can read my post here.

And this morning as I drove to work I remembered the tree that had fallen and blocked my road during the first early morning storm. And how the power was out but the air felt electric.

As I sit working I think about watching the radar from my desk and wondering how bad it really could be.

And then tonight at home I'll think of me and mom huddled in a basement with neighbors and strangers waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

I can only admit now how scared I truly was and how still when the wind blows too strong, I tend to jump and look at the skies.

And I wasn't even near the severe damage. My home was still standing.

Throughout this week I've read stories of people rebuilding their homes exactly where it always was, moving forward because life doesn't allow you to move backward and not taking one second of any day for granted.

We're Alabama and we're still here.