It got scary!  Real scary!

I think if not for all the help I got during the wind storm, the tent would have flipped over with me hanging on for dear life.  The tent has gotten old, the stakes I have used for the last 25 years have gotten lost, misplaced, been bent, hammered until they no longer worked as needed.

I have gotten complacent with the set up.  I have not had an issue since the last huge wind storm I experienced at Estrella War about 5 years ago.  I had looked at the weather on the phone earlier in the day and it looked to me like there was nothing to worry about.

In New Mexico, where I live, there are almost no tornados.  About 30 years ago, one hit Albuquerque and did damage to a couple of buildings, but really no big deal at all.  I have been through Oklahoma after tornados have hit and been amazed by the power that the tornados have.   I never again want to experience what I did at Gulf Wars, be it a tornado or not.

I think I will have to retire the old tent and replace it with a new one.   It has served me well over a very long time, but it is time to admit that things get old, have gone through too many events and need to be retired.

Thanks again for Mistress Helga, Sir Bohemond, Master Bela and Eorl Mordygan for saving me and my tent.