Tom,
I can't even guess how many times I've looked off the wing to see LaPorte on the way over to Plymouth, Goshen, or to Knox VOR. I had weather sneak in on me one time to stop me at Valpo when the sky fell above Griffith. No twisters though.
I still vividly remember my long student cross country back in '91. Just west of Carroll Cty Ohio's airport, I was really yanked about. I remember my clipboard flying and hitting the ceiling a couple of times as I was yanking the throttle back. It was a very bumpy ride all the way back to my home airport in Pittsburgh. After I landed, white knuckles and all, I learnd that a Tornado had touched down a very short distance from where I encountered my clear air turbulence. Of course the forecasts hadn't called for any convective activity.
I've had moments of high speed excitement under canopy, dealing with strange winds just above landing flare. Like when flying, I found I was too busy responding to the problems at hand to have time for fear.
I was in Redwood City Ca. in '89 when the big quake hit. I remember how helpless I felt because there weren't any checklist items I could perform to make things better. I remember how worried my loved ones were until I could get through to them late that night. I think I understand how you felt until you knew that your wife was safe. I would much rather deal with my own emergencies than worry about the safety of someone I love.
Joe
