Hit by a tornado…
and it reminded me of something.
Natural disasters teach you a lot. They also remind you of what is important.
On May 8, at 9 pm, I called my 23-year-old son to ask if he heard a tornado siren. He was at our home in rural Southeast Missouri. My daughter, my husband, and I were in St. Louis, about 1 1/2 hours away, and I had gotten a notification on my phone warning about a tornado in Ironton. My son said no and went to look out the window. He then said an expletive, and the phone didn't work for ten minutes.
When I finally got ahold of him, he told me he had seen a rotation of rain in our front yard in Ironton, and then a huge tree fell inches away from crushing our front porch.
Fortunately, our house was spared, and the only damage we had on our property was to numerous trees and a few fences. Others of our friends and neighbors weren't so lucky.
Fortunately, we have not heard of any deaths or significant injuries. However, the trauma of being in such a dangerous situation will last a long time for the area. My son says the sound of chainsaws fills the town from dawn to dusk.
My daughter and I haven't been back there yet. My husband got to survey the damage last week. He sent me pictures of many trees broken in half. Some trees were thrown 40 feet or more by the 92 miles an hour winds. A few of our fences are down. Fortunately, our horses and goats were fine.
At the end of this week, we will close up our house in the city and spend the summer at our small farm. Part of that time will be spent helping my daughter produce and star in a short film she wrote. It is about three homeschoolers who explore a haunted school and encounter evil ghost teachers and ghost kids. The homeschoolers and ghost kids all have challenges, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. My daughter wrote the family-friendly horror script, The Haunted Belldown School, inspired by her difficulties with dyslexia.
When thinking about everything we will have to do to repair the damage from the tornado, both at our house and in terms of the larger community, I can't help but think about the theme of my daughter’s film—facing adversity despite your challenges.
Her project reflects resilience and diversity, especially in the aftermath of the tornado.
My son is a teacher at a small rural school, which was demolished by the tornado. There's a picture of his classroom missing the ceiling and a wall. He said, “At least Descartes survived.” He was referring to the poster of the mathematician and philosopher on his wall.
There are going to be hundreds of children who may have no school next year. Maybe it will be virtual; or the students may be bussed to other towns thirty minutes away. The best-case scenario is that the school can be repaired. No one is holding their breath for that.
Many of these kids will be neurodivergent, the same as my daughter and her characters in her film. They will be faced with adversity posed by their circumstances and their challenges. Their lives have been changed forever by some twist in the air.
Horror doesn't have to be a movie plot; it is also about the experience of having your world turned upside down. It is in the understanding of feeling vulnerable to circumstances beyond your control. It is seeing a tornado go down your street and saying, “Oh sh$t.”
This natural disaster is the first one my son has experienced alone. As parents, my husband and I would have done anything to spare him that trauma. I think about all the earthquakes and hurricanes I have been through. Each natural disaster changes you. They punctuate your life. Like all challenges outside our control, they are building blocks for courage and fortitude. They also remind you how human you are.
For me, storytelling is the way I navigate my life challenges. I always say I write to make sense of this world. My son and daughter have the opportunity to do the same, with challenges I can't spare them from. I can only model how you can make meaning in life without running away from adversity. Otherwise, you are haunted by your ghosts.
I would appreciate it if you click here https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-haunted-belldown-school to learn more about my daughter’s film project and consider donating to make it come to fruition. All funds will go to film production. Your support of her creative expression can give hope to children who face less dramatic adversity than a tornado's aftermath, but it can seem impossible.
Your support for my daughter's film project extends beyond creative expression; it symbolizes hope and resilience.
Natural disasters teach you about resilience, and diversity teaches you about opportunities. Our storytelling can inspire us to create a greater narrative of renewal. Remember that as you hug your loved ones, knowing you never know what will happen tomorrow.
Best,
Melissa
