Chris, depends upon where you were yesterday. Last I heard, there were 8, make that 12 with update, reported twisters in Oklahoma, the largest being an EF4 near the town of Mangum, in SW Okla. There were several others, including in North Texas and Kansas. Yes, people's homes were hit and damaged, if not totally destroyed. Have not heard of any fatalities due to the storms. Right now, even tonight, many are displaced due to the winds and major flooding. The Cimarron River, North and South Canadian Rivers, numerous streams/creeks miles out of their banks. More storms, some severe, are forecasted for Wed and Thurs. The most of what we do not need is more rain. The state Oklahoma is now close to a foot above normal for this time of year. It has been an extra wet year in many parts of the nation, has it not? From last nights storms, my rain gauges show close to 4 inches, another 4 1/2 inches. The mentioned rivers have yet to crest, just heard on tonight's news. Also, one reported death due to someone driving around a barricade closing the road. The worst we had on our property was the Koi pond going over it's banks, but the yard flooding is down with my French drains doing what they can to handle it. The creek behind our property is full and flowing fast to the North Canadian River. Yes, prayers were answered by the fact, against all computer projections, the cold front proved more powerful and push the warm front South. Should the warm front had prevailed, the additional high temps and humidity/moisture, would have fueled the super-cells and larger hail, stronger, more numerous twisters would have been the rule of the day. We do give thanks to where it is deserved, counting our blessings.
As with others, what we have in our trains is tied to memories, past loved ones, lessons from our youth. For myself, the majority of my PW Lionel is from my youth, collected and operated on layouts by my father and I. My first ever Lionel set, and four additional before I graduated from high school, are still together and operational. The two years before my father's passing at young age of 53, he and I went on a "binge" and every weekend we were visiting local flea markets, dealers and shops in Houston for more trains. Now, they are still together and get an occasional running, my father looking over my shoulder and smiling.
Jesse
