It's been really, really super-bad here. I've never in my life seen a spring like this here. And my parents, who moved here just after WW II and prior to that grew up down in southeast Arkansas, say that they have not seen the likes of this either.

Don & I ourselves are fine; Fayetteville, in the Ozark Mts., tends to be kind of a "tornado-free zone" of sorts. The last time it took a direct hit was 1906.

But there are many, many people who are our "neighbors," just an hour or two away, whose communities & towns have been absolutely demolished & devestated. These people have lost literally EVERYTHING, those that are still alive. The fact that that St. John's Hospital got hit, and the only high school, in Joplin, as well as continuing driving rain, thunderstorms, lightning, hail & even more tornados, as well as no cell phone or landline communication and no electricity, has really made it nearly impossible for them to function.

Many of you know that I'm on the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the Ozarks. While we are in the midst of helping out Joplin with their animals (many of the owners died & their pets are wandering homeless!) from Sunday night's tornado, now last night, another tornado hit & wiped-out Denning, Arkansas, just south of us, with the same effect - dogs, cats, horses, cattle, goats, etc., wandering, some physically injured. So our Executive Director is headed down there right now to establish a command post to gather, triage/treat & transport animals back here to be vetted. Those animals will need cleaning, tending, etc., which is where our Board & volunteers will help out.

Wish us luck, it seems like a never-ending circumstance. Seems like it's a part of our lives now. I wish this spring would end, and SOON.

My God, Jenny!....so glad you are OK...prayers going out for those left to deal with the aftermath & all those bewildered animals wandering around. So sad!