Happy New Year! Visiting Friends in Joplin and the Book That Sparked an Obsession
Happy New Year friends! I hope 2023 is being kind to you so far. Mother Nature decided to mark the new year with her own fireworks , as severe storms impacted Oklahoma, Arkansas and other southern states Jan. 2. Several storm chasers caught footage of their first tornadoes of the year, including some that caused damage in Arkansas. No injuries or deaths have been reported, thankfully. I was in Joplin, MO, for New Year's, visiting my good friend and chase partner, Mira, and her family. The weather was unseasonably warm for New Year's Day, so we spent most of the day outside, walking her dog at a nearby park. The day prior was also pretty pleasant, so we ventured into Joplin to a local hardware store that's closing after 100 years in business. The store had a few interesting items, and I picked up a weather radio for my younger sister. Mira and I also got little LED flashlights. I've stashed mine in my backpack as part of my "just in case" gear. After the hardw...