This isn't Kansas and I don't have a dog named Toto. But like Judy Garland in the Wizard Of Oz, yesterday I found myself being caught in the path of a terrible storm. Not one of my own making, but one I had to deal with none the less.
Forces of nature are scary things. I've survived many hurricanes in my lifetime. Living so close to the Gulf of Mexico almost promises that you will be visited by Mother Nature's fury once in a while. But with hurricanes you have time to get out of the storm's path. Tornados are different. They arrive at a moment's notice and almost always leave a path of destruction behind.
Yesterday, not only did I make it through the storm, I witnessed an act of love and friendship I will not soon forget. As I was huddled in our school's bathroom with a toddler beside me, my best friend was standing guard outside the door while a funnel cloud tried it's best to materialize in front of him. I'm not really sure what he thought he could do should Mother Nature decide to show her power, but what a testimonial to love and friendship that he was willing to try and protect his loved ones!
It's times like these that put my writing problems into perspective. How can I let a little writer's block get me down when there are tornadoes in my path? The fear of failure...or success... doesn't have a chance when I realize I overcame so much fear yesterday. With patience and the support of my friends, I will weather any writer's storm with the same perseverance I did yesterday's funnel cloud. I know with the coming daylight there will be clear skies, and maybe even a published book or two on my horizon. Mother Nature...don't you just love her?
