Date Night - Husband, Basketball and a Tornado?

So, Husband and I went out Friday night. We like to spend time without the kids to keep our relationship exciting. Someone had given us Atlanta Hawks tickets. The Hawks play at Phillips Arena… which is connected to the CNN Center… in downtown Atlanta … where a tornado decided to rip through the city… when we were there. We like to keep things exciting, but that was a bit much.

Surreal is more like it. We decided to leave the game with six minutes left in the 4th quarter. The Hawks were killing the Los Angeles Clippers (Go Hawks!) so we met up with Husband’s co-workers who rode with us to the game. As we were walking through the CNN Center about to head outside we saw people running. As cliché as it sounds, we started running, too. We headed toward the doors to get away from the commotion when we were stopped and told not to go outside. We looked up and saw thick, dense wind and rain swirling outside; we slowly backed away from the glass doors and heard the classic tornado rumbling. It really does sound like a train. The building shook. Rain was dripping from the ceiling of the food court in the CNN Center and insulation was floating through the air.

All I could think about was the building collapsing so we headed outside as soon as they allowed us out of the building. Immediately we saw the wreckage. It was unbelievable. Metal twisted, poles fallen, street lights dismantled, trees on cars, windows blown out. The tornado came in quick, did its damage and in an instant it was gone. Absolutely amazing. What’s even more amazing is that no one was killed. The SEC basketball tournament was happening in the Georgia Dome next to Phillips Arena. There were so many people in the Dome and Phillips Arena alone that the storm could have wiped out thousands in an instant.



I pulled this picture off of CNN.com.



Yup, that’s our car. I’m thankful that’s all that happened. People were injured, homes were destroyed, businesses damaged … in the whole scheme of things two windows are not that bad — especially after the second round of tornados came through the area on Saturday when at least two people lost their lives.

When we got home Auntie and Boyfriend (my sister and her boyfriend) had the kids downstairs. Miles was knocked out on the couch, but little girl was awake and smiling when I walked through the door. I’ve never been happier to see that little face. So, happy I let her stay up and play on the couch until past midnight when I was ready to go to sleep.

Sometimes God sends a little excitement our way to keep us on our toes. I love my family and all the blessings that I am so fortunate to have. I’m grateful, excited, on my toes, and plan on watching the next game from home!

Thankful Smiles,
Wifey