WEIRD WEATHER

Tornado in Oregon, March 4 1999

Carissa Bay Forever?
 by Londa Anklam
 Lebanon, Oregon 

I woke to the announcement of more stormy weather coming inland as I
prepared myself for another journey.  I’ve had an on-going sign-painting
business in Coos Bay well after my move from the coast a few years back. 
Each trip now is a wondrous experience of sorts and I treasure the moments
I get to live there again, even if only for a few days every
once in awhile.  I hadn’t been down there in over a month and all the stuff
happened with the New Carissa during this time.  I hoped as I packed my
bags, for favorable weather and a glimpse at the stern which remained
beached.

I took my time leaving our farm as I had business to tend along the route
and wouldn’t be painting until the following morning.  

Approaching the coastal range of mountains, the winds began picking up
along with the rain. The lights went out just as I began through the tunnel
on Highway 126 headed toward Florence.  Leaves and small branches flew
across the road hitting my windshield and making me question if I should’ve
stayed home. 

The Gingerbread House’s power went dead shortly after it came into view and
more gusts made me grab the steering wheel tighter.  

I pulled off in Mapleton to continue my trip after things settled down
some.  Half-an-hour later I went back on the road experiencing dramatic
fits of the storm every few miles.  Near Hauser, on Highway 101 South, I
saw what appeared to be explosions from the Coos Bay-North Bend direction. 
White flashes sporadically lighting the black evening sky made me think a
war was beginning or something. 

What if this was “IT”? Could it be the end of my beloved Coos Bay? 

I’d lived on the coast since 1981 never experiencing such powerful thunder
and lightening, but reasoned the flashes had to be that.  Pulling into a
parking lot near The Beauty and The Beast, I futilely attempted to put on
my coat trying to escape the mixture of hail and rain.  Then it hit!  White
light blazed from the east to the west with more brilliance than I can
describe. I counted one, but before I could utter two,  the thundering
blast shook the ground beneath me.  This could be IT...  Was I ready? 
Frozen in time for an instant, I quickly reviewed my standing in life.  If
this was IT, there wasn’t much I could change now so I proceeded on my way.


Shortly thereafter, I entered a candle lit home where my friend snuggled on
the couch with a flashlight reading.  “The lights went out about an hour
ago she reported.   We shared a few stories of happenings and both felt
sorry for the linemen who were out trying to fix a blown transformer.

The next day the weather continued to play it’s on-again, off-again tricks,
but I worked in a heated shop so I paid it no mind.  

It was the following morning that things began to take a different twist
and my thoughts again were directed to how long my dear Coos Bay would
remain.  I headed out to Charleston checking on a few more business
contacts and on my way back to town, I swung up Radar Hill hoping to
identify the stern of the New Carissa.  I hadn’t had a chance to be there
when the action was taking place, but I saw the well worn path 100’s of
others had taken.

The skies were mixed with beautiful blues and cumulous clouds to the
southwest, north was dark and it looked like one area was getting soaked. 
No one was around so I parked my car across the street and walked over to
the ridge.  I grabbed my camera for a shot of the stern, to at least say
I’d been there if nothing else.  

The northwest skies began churning and I reflected back to Minnesota where
my family had lost our barn to a tornado.  Could I be seeing a funnel
cloud?  

My focus changed to the southeast’s heavy gray clouds which were forcing
their way into the westward winds. Two pressure systems began colliding and
there was no mistake, a funnel cloud was forming!  With each breath, it
became more apparent someone might get hurt really bad here...maybe even
me!  I looked at my car only 30’ away and wondered if I should hop in and
take off.  But where could I go?  

This might be 'IT' raced through my brain and my heart pumped intensely. 
If it’s my time to go, then I hope I’m ready.  My spirit groaned forall
those in the path of this potential killer.  “Oh God, please don’t hurt
us,” I whispered and took a shot with my Polaroid.  I looked at the sky and
thought I at least got a picture of this unheard of occurrence before I go.
 I snapped off one of the stern and glanced back at thetwister; awaiting my
fate.  It’s twirling finger extended towards the horizon, growing bigger
and fiercer before my eyes.  

A woman passing in a small greenish car noticed me standing there, then she
saw the funnel cloud.  Her mouth dropped open.  I knew she knew this could
be it too.  Then just as suddenly as it appeared, it began to dissipate.  I
clicked off one more picture before it was no where in sight.  I proceeded
to my job,painted the piece of equipment with the appropriate logo and went
to see my ta lady.  Excited about my picture and story,  she suggested I go
to the local newspaper, The World.  Apparently I was not the only one who
witnessed this unusual phenomena as they were already writing a story on
it, but no one had pictures, until me. 

Why me?  Only the Lord knows, but I can’t help but wonder if it isn’t a
wake up call.  Twice on my journey I was called to examine just where I was
with my life and shown how quickly it could be over.  

The New Millennium is at hand; are you ready?

Londa also sent this picture of her baby lamb Harry.


[Click to enlarge]

What is the Sign SIG?

Vision of Mary in Clearwater FL

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