Hope

This is the "Survivor Tree" at the OKC National Memorial. It's a living reminder of of hope, life and improbable survival in times of tragedy and hardship. 

Storm skies

This is what the skies looked like in my front yard the day the tornado hit in Edmond. I love clouds like this. On a serious note, the same line of storms hit 90 miles south of OKC in a little town called Lone Grove, right at sundown and killed eight people in a trailer park. The town has been devastated but Oklahomans have a seemingly unending ability to dig deep, pull together and help each other again, again, and again. In Edmond, a mini market in the neighborhood, when they got their power back, provided free hot food to the first responders or anyone who had been displaced by the storm. The Red Cross set up a shelter the night of the tornado but by the 10 p.m. news, they had shut it down because everyone had been provided a home in which to go stay.

Early storm

This is the storm that's just hitting my house right now. The little bit of red just above the fence line is a lightning strike. A line of thunderstorms from Texas to Kansas hit this afternoon that spawned tornadoes in metro OKC, including one that was on the ground for ten minutes. There were no deaths reported so far and only three minor injuries, even though one man in a trailer was sucked through a window and thrown outside. The line has finally hit my little town, thankfully after dark where tornado activity is much less prone. I do have a storm shelter, but I don't think it will be necessary. However, with all the lightening, I think I will post this as quickly as possible and shut off my computer. The "storm season" is a month away.

Colorful OK

Downtown OKC has some very colorful areas. This was taken from the Bricktown canal boat in the summer.

Winter baby

I almost missed this little guy as I was driving past. He lives just around the block from me and looks like he's pretty new in town.

Conductor

In front of the Civic Music Center, this statue is dedicated to the conductors. And there he stands, wistfully conducting to the day.

Bricktown

A one-time view of Bricktown for me, from this height, and still under ice.

A bird's eye view

This shot was taken from the 34th floor of the Chase building in downtown. The edge of Bricktown is just off to the very bottom left. There are still remnants of the sleet storm on the ground and tops of the buildings.