It's 9AM

Do you ever ask what if?

I drove around to check the damage.

 Not to be a lookie loo.

 Though I was certainly that.

 I wanted to see first hand what the storms had done.

 Piles of debris and chopped up trees stacked as high as the missing homes behind them.

 Belongings and insulation and children's toys threaded through the mix like lost treasures.

 Lost Innocence for sure.

 Because there are two things no one expects.

 The Spanish inquisition.

 And F3 Tornadoes.

 It's hard to prepare for either.

 Because it always happens somewhere else.

 Until it happens here.

 Lucky only six people died.

 Though I hate the way that sounds.

 As if we are lucky anyone died.

 Everyone says it could have been worse.

 Which is true.

 Which is sad.

 A few hours later and that number would have an extra zero behind it.

 Maybe two.

 A scary concept.

 It should make us more aware.

 Better prepared for next time.

 The wind reaches down from the heavens and traces a scar across the face of the Earth.

 Indiscriminate.

 But we are not.

 Prepared.

 Ready.

 Some rural places have storm shelters.

 Concrete bunkers buried under a mound of Earth a short Dash from the door.

 They feel rustic and primitive.

 Little more than a cement cave in the ground.

 So few in the city they barely Merit a mention.

 But we have options.

 Some people are building storm shelters under their garage floors.

 Which feels dumb.

 If the house collapses all the debris blocks the exit.

 There are alternatives.

 We are looking at this steel shelter on amazon.

 Above ground and bolted to the floor.

 Easy end.

 Easier out.

 The question we face is.

 What if nothing happens? Is the effort you spend to be prepared for what if wasted if nothing happens? I have car insurance I have never used.

 No crashes.

 No wrecks.

 A few too many Zoomy tickets through the years but sometimes I like going fast.

 All those dollars out of the door year after year and all I get for it are rate increases.

 In case I need it.

 Same thing for the pistol in the lock box.

 Just in case.

 Condom in my wallet.

 Seat belt while driving.

 Will and living trust in a safe.

 All For What if.

 100 more plans items and backups.

 Just in case.

 And I hope I never need any of it.

 What is your what if?

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