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Confessions
of an Indiegirl:
Tornado Alley
by Bari Koral |
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The week of May 8th, 2003, tornados were whipping through
the midwest and flattening houses like pancakes. Of course, I was
on tour that week in that very area. On May 9th, if you were to
check the Doppler radar of the most severe weather in the country,
it would have taken you right to Springfield, IL, where I was driving
to a gig... terrified. Outside of the shelter of my Pontiac Bonneville
rental (with 2 cup holders and a five-CD changer!), was just about
the strangest weather I had ever seen.
As a frequent guest in the midwest, I've had no choice but to get
acquainted with tornados. Every time I'm driving down a back road
in the middle of nowhere, I plan my escape. I'll dive right under
a cow if necessary, or maybe run right into a farmer's house and
make friends with the family in the basement (maybe I will even
get invited to stay for a real farmer's breakfast the next day!).
I also ask MANY questions. "How do you know a tornado is coming?"
I queried the clerk from Casey's General Store (note: all Casey's
General Stores look exactly alike). "Oh, you just know! she said.
The sky gets such a weird color. Looks kinda purple. And it's so
calm, quiet and still; peaceful. Then, BOOM! Sounds just like a
freight train is coming at you!"
Good grief. So, here I am driving on a deserted 2-lane highway and
the weather is just beyond freaky. I make a turn and suddenly I'm
in further Nowhereville. Now I wasn't even sure I was going the
right way, and then "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEE..."
tornado sirens - going off like crazy.
Friends, if you have never heard a tornado siren I will tell you
what it sounds like. It sounds like run for your life!
Panicking, wheezing and cursing that I couldn't just settle down
in a 9-5 job like a normal person, I frantically scan the road for
signs of civilization. The sky is completely out of control. I try
to keep calm. If I can just get out of this alive, I think, I can
get to the gig, then I can go home to my hotel safe and sound. Happy.
Maybe they will even be giving out peach-scented samples of shampoos
and soaps. A name like "Peach Tree Inn" kind of suggests cute little
samples. God. There is just SO much to live for.
I'm driving. I'm sweating. Then, up ahead, gleaming in the middle
of nowhere like a great beacon of hope, was a shiny, bright, beautiful,
GAS STATION. Oh, THANK GOD! I had never been happier to see a gas
station in my whole life. Thank you very nice gas station.
Still terrified, I ran inside. Shaking like I'd just robbed a bank,
I looked around. The locals stood and chatted with each other. "La
la, la, la, la, la, ain't life just peachy?" they seemed to be singing.
They were buying beer and lotto tickets. Hello!??!? Didn't anyone
happen to hear the tornado sirens?!?! Hello? Will you even be able
to find that lotto ticket tomorrow when the twister has ripped your
house to shreds? The locals were unimpressed and told me I was fine
to drive. The tornado touching down was nine miles away, and could
be headed in this direction, but then again, maybe not. But then
again, well, who knows? "Like the tornado of 1981, now that was
a KILLER!" one guy said. Everyone nodded in agreement. No one seemed
too concerned right now though. "Where are you from?" he asked me.
"Uh, Manhattan." I said. "Manhattan!" They all laughed for about
ten minutes.
I was so scared. I called home. "Mom! Mom! I don't know what to
do. I'm on my way to a gig but there are tornado sirens going off.
I have to be on stage like in five minutes." "Tornados!?!" Mom screamed.
"Are you crazy?" "You have to cancel that gig right now! Get to
a basement, close the door and don't come out till morning!" "But
mom, I'm getting paid like $1,000 dollars". Mom considered this.
"Sing well and stay close to the ground." Then she hung up.
Finally a guy heard me practically weeping on the phone. He was
a student at the University where I was to be playing and offered
to save the day! "I'll drive you to your show Miss" (I love being
called Miss! The fact that I just turned 29 again instantly endears
me to anyone who calls me Miss). So, just like that he whisked me
away in his shiny truck and drove fearlessly through lightening
that could rival a 4th of July sky.
At the venue I put my hero smack in front of me and sang to him
the entire time (which wasn't too hard considering his watery blue
eyes). Through the skylights in the venue the lightening was lighting
up the whole room. I closed my eyes and pictured cows and little
farmhouses flying past the windows. I sang like I was smack in the
middle of Twister, the musical guest they cut out of the
movie. Just glad to be alive. And you know what? I sang great.
So, now I sing like that no matter where I am. On a bright sunny
day, carefree in my beloved little Manhattan, I'll close my eyes
and sing like I'm in the middle of hail and wind and funnel clouds
and Dorothy flying right past me. I'll sing out of the safety zone
and bring myself right to the edge. I'll sing like life depends
on it. Wonderful emotion lies in just going for it all. It's a great
place to perform from. You always gain the most when you play like
you've got nothing to lose. |
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_________________________________
To find out more about Bari Koral visit:
http://www.barikoral.com/ |
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_________________________________
Bari Koral is an international touring and recording artist. When
she's not traveling she divides her time between NYC and Woodstock,
NY. |
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