In this part of the world, the weather is something that is taken seriously. In a 24-hour period, it can go from warm to cold to rain. Around this time, it can go from cold to really cold to really, really cold in one day. And the weatherman? He is king! If he says in his forecast to dress warm, by golly, you bundle up.

You know how it is when you get in a situation where you have to break the ice? First thing you do is frantically search in your mind for something to say. Then like a tongue-tied guy meeting a girl's parents for the first time, the best thing you can come up with is, “so how's the weather?”

That simple, seemingly unassuming question resonates like a huge avalanche where I live. So how's the weather? For starters, it's freezing outside. It's extremely cold. It's frigidly bitter. It sort of sucks, well, OK, it really sucks!

I am really not a big fan of bulky layered clothing. I hate heavy coats and you have to be careful with some of those wool coats, they itch like crazy. Oh, let's not forget the sweaters, scarves, heavy-duty stockings, hats and gloves.

But in this part of the world, the weather is something that is taken seriously. In a 24-hour period, it can go from warm to cold to rain. Around this time, it can go from cold to really cold to really, really cold in one day. And the weatherman? He is king! If he says in his forecast to dress warm, by golly, you bundle up. If he predicts snow, you make sure your car scraper, your shovel and snow blower are ready.

It is a way of life that you have come to expect after living here for almost 20 years. You deal with it. On good days, you go on with your business despite the biting cold. On bad days, you grunt, you whine, you whimper but still life goes on. So when a tornado touchdown made the news last January 7 th , you tell yourself, it's early January.

Here in the United States , said The Online Tornado FAQ website, there is a general northward shift in "tornado season" in the U.S. from late winter through mid summer. The peak period for tornadoes in the southern plains, for example, is during May into early June. On the Gulf coast, it is earlier during the spring; in the northern plains and upper Midwest , it is June or July. Although the website further said that tornadoes can happen any time of year if the conditions are right! But early January? This was the first in early January for Northern Illinois since 1950.

It hit home for me when I received an email from Tom, a good friend of ours, who lives about 4 miles northeast from Poplar Grove where it happened. Poplar Grove is 75 miles northwest of Chicago .

Tom said that he and his wife received a phone call from a friend who informed them that another close friend's home got hit by the tornado. He decided to go and visit her and see if there's anything that he can do to help.

He got to their friend's house and found out that she had been home, just her and their dog, when the storm hit.  Luckily, the tornado came across their front yard, missing the house by about 15-20 feet.  Still, it blew the chimney completely off the house and pulled the 12 - foot high gable off the east wall of the house, exposing the attic.  There was no real damage to the interior of the house, but there were signs that the roof had moved just a touch. 

They put tarps across the gaping hole to keep the rain out until the board-up company arrived about three hours after the storm to close up that side of the house.  There house suffered minor damage and they were very, very lucky.  Ellen and the doggie were okay, obviously a little shook up.

After skirting their house, Tom noticed that the tornado continued on a northeast path through the next farm where all the animals were accounted for except one calf. It then continued on to Edward's Apple Orchard.  Edward's is 61 miles northwest from where I live. It is a favorite destination during the fall season for apple picking and fun stuff.

The storm knocked down the buildings, including the historic barn, and two other houses in the vicinity.  The owners of Edward's, whose house was also seriously damaged, vow to keep the orchard open in new buildings by fall.  The tornado continued northeast to another town, knocking a semi truck off the road and derailing some freight cars, then into southern Wisconsin where it also hit the town of Wheatland.

Not until you actually experience what it's like, I could only imagine the trauma that one goes through after. I get scared when I hear the howling sound of a really strong wind. I am petrified when I see our pine tree in the front yard sway viciously. For crying out loud, a tornado you say?

TV networks here have taken great strides in using the most sophisticated weather predictors that money can buy. Every TV station relies on the Doppler radar, weather maps, satellite maps and the weather news team. They filter warnings on TV as tickers. Weather forecasting is serious business.

I am glad that our good friend Tom and his family are safe. I am glad that their friends are also safe. It must have been a petrifying sight to see no doubt, a surreal experience to say the least -- tree branches everywhere, debris all over and houses demolished like cardboard boxes. I shudder even just thinking about that.

Interestingly enough, a rare incident such as a tornado in early January in this part of the world makes me think about a few things, like global warming. Maybe there is really some tangible truth in the effects of the melting of the polar ice caps. Maybe the world is shifting. Maybe it's cyclical. Maybe…

Well all I know for sure is I still have to deal with this nasty cold weather until March or even April, who knows! In the meantime, the jackets, the scarves and the boots will still be my staple everyday. I may sound like I'm whining but really I'm not. I would take that anytime over tornadoes. Believe me!

Till next time, enjoy the nice weather where you're at. Also, my big thanks to my friend, Tom Prokop of Belvidere , IL for the inspiration and his contribution on this story.

Remember, count your blessings always!