I’ve never really experienced a natural disaster first hand. I was very young when the Northridge earthquake destroyed parts of Los Angeles, and I must have blocked most of it out of my mind. It’s true that I’ve sat wide eyed with my jaw to the floor as I read the news, or watched the TV as other parts of the world were hit by mother nature at her angriest. And like most people who feel helpless and useless under these circumstances, I’ve donated money to the red cross. I prayed for other people’s families, and homes, but never my own. Maybe watching through a screen allows the mind to disconnect, or maybe its just too painful to absorb. Maybe it’s self preservation. Last Wednesday my flight was scheduled to land in Huntsville Alabama, right around the time the tornadoes hit. What I saw last week changed my life forever.
Scared we were going to miss our connecting flight to Huntsville, we deplaned the flight that landed us 20 min late into Memphis with great urgency to find that our flight had actually been delayed 2 hours. This put our minds at ease, and we decided to eat lunch and regroup. He ordered a burger and I put some makeup on my tired puffy eyes in the bathroom. I was exhausted and our travel time had gone from 6 to 8 hours, but I was still smiling. As we headed towards our gate, a woman with a brisk walk told us that our flight to Huntsville had been cancelled due to weather. We moved faster. At this time, the most frustrating aspect of our journey so far was that the airline offered no form of compensation for flights cancelled due to weather. I decided to take control, and not let a couple hundred miles stop us from reaching our destination. Besides, who doesn’t like a road trip? I googled the distance, and it seemed as though we could make it in around 4 hours. I asked them to take my bag off the plane, and was informed it could take up to 2 hours. I shrugged, and headed towards the signs that pointed us in the direction of rental cars. No company would rent us a one way car. We waited as bus after bus stopped and I asked if their company would please rent us a car. We were turned down every time. I called a company and begged the operator to help us. She finally gave in, either because I wore her down or her shift was almost over. We picked up our car and headed back to the airport to grab our luggage, but as we exited the lot the wrong way, we ran over two rows of spikes. We continued on our way, already discussing how often we would have to stop to fill up the tires with air. About an hour in we got a phone call from his mom. She and I had been communicating via text in a casual manner prior to this call, but now the worry in her voice was evident. She said the weather was getting worse and she’d keep us posted. We kept driving, since the sun was shining and the weather was gorgeous where we were. Besides don’t all moms tend to give undue importance to stormy weather? It wasn’t until she called back an hour later and told us to pull over in the next town, that we listened. We pulled into a Holiday Inn and made it less than ten feet into the lobby before stopping dead in our tracks. The news was on, and every pair of eyes was glued to the TV. The hospital in Tuscaloosa had been destroyed. I was suddenly terrified, mostly because of all the other terrified faces. These people were used to tornadoes, so this must be bad. The woman at the counter offered us peach cobbler and chicken dumplings, but by the time my stomach was calm enough to eat there was only a tray filled with leftover baked beans. I’m not picky, so I tilted the tray and scraped what I could into a plastic bowl. I pulled out yahtzee, my favorite game, and we played for about 3 hours in hopes that everything would blow over (no pun intended). Because there were no rooms at that hotel or any in the surrounding area, we decided to keep driving. We would be going through towns that had already been hit, and with no power, no light and tons of loose debris in the road, we knew the drive would be scary. Another hour and a half on the road and we were back to laughing again. In fact, we didn’t notice that things were deceptively quiet. There were no cars on the road, and we drove with the windows down. A Black Eyed Peas song was playing on the radio, and we were getting close to home. At that point we were going on 15 hours of travel time and its safe to say we were a little slap happy. Trail mix and baked beans were all we had to eat all day. Then out of nowhere we hit a patch of water on the road. All I remember was thinking it looked like a waterfall in front of our car. We couldn’t see, and we were spinning. I don’t know how many feet we went, or how many seconds it took to stop, but it felt like forever. When we finally stopped moving I started crying. You would think we would have stayed there for a while to catch our breath, but behind us I could see headlights approaching and I suggested we just keep going to avoid being a part of a 10 car pile up. We kept driving into what quickly turned into a nightmare. We were in two feet of water going 5 miles per hour as parts of trees and chunks of wood floated by. The houses to our right were totally gone. Cars were upside down and huge billboards that once lived so high up in the sky were bent in half. With no street lamps it was difficult to see in the dark, but it didn’t take sight to feel the trauma that lingered. Steadily making our way through the debris, we came upon two men in yellow windbreakers waving their hands at our car. We stopped and rolled down the window. They told us we had to turn around, because not even 18 wheelers could make it through the water ahead. We pleaded with them, begging for an alternate route. We were so close and the day had been so long. They shook their heads and scoffed as though we were accusing them of making things more difficult. Defeated, we turned around and headed back in the direction we came from. It was a silent ride. We slept in the first motel we came upon, which was about an hour away, and the next morning we woke up only to go through it all again in the daylight.
None of us could have predicted how bad those tornadoes would be last year.
I know someone who did the exact same thing as you because he wanted to get home from the University of Alabama and it’s only a couple hours away, so even though his mother warned him, he said it would just be a little storm and started home anyway.
The poor boy did get here, but was terrified to go back! Just the thought that you could have been one of the thousands dead or injured is terrifying.
You don’t know me, but promise me you will never do something like that again! Nature is nothing to play with.
I was driving to Memphis one night with a friend a couple months ago and it started storming. I hate driving at night and in the rain and I was losing my mind! I can’t imagine driving through that weather like you guys did.
I just came across your page and i must say i am extremely impressed with your writing and your laid back attitude of life. I dont believe i could ever pay for a first class ticket either! And being from kentucky i am very used to tornados but it always amazes me to see the damage one will cause on unsuspecting houses and farms. It can be absolute madness. Thank you for your page and i am a huge fan, stay laid back and continue writing, its great. Shannon Graff
I am from AL, reading this post for the first time. You are right, we are use to the tornados, normally I wouldn’t think twice about a warning. But this day changes that as it effected so many our lives in this state, did not know you had to experience it as well. Heads are high and hopes are up now. Thanks for sharing your story.
OMG, so glad you are OK. You are braver then I. Thank you for sharing your story and making it accessible so we can keep up with you. Love to you.
omg i would have been terrifiedfrom the beginning. you are so brave, i hope you made it there in the end safely and a great time!
l love u nikki, stay beautiful xxxx
Congrats on the engagement to Paul. You got yourself a good one so hold on to that one. You probably wont find another sweet southern boy like him.
okay, one, you have some creepy fans..lol ‘ill meet you one day i promise..?” um yea..
anyway I live in Alabama too and thank you for your kind words. I’ve met Paul on one occasion and he is such a well spoken, nice guy. Rare in these parts, so hang on to him..;) Two, make Paul bring you to the Gulf Shores area if you ever want the beach. we have the most beautiful here..Ijust got married last weekend so good luck with planning a wedding as it was the single biggest headache ive ever had that last month. Wish the best for you guys, youre a phenomenal writer.
Hi Nikki, very nice to meet you! We live 30 minutes west of Huntsville, AL. Totally understand about scary horrible bad weather. Have lived here all my life. Experienced a tornado first hand in 1994. Had family and friends hit in this one. None of our family and friends died. Houses gone.
By the way, love watching you in the Twilight Saga movies.
Congrats on the engagement.
I have enjoyed reading your adventures!
Karen from N. Alabama
Great story!!
Life experiences make the best subjects for great stories.
My daughter is also named “Nikki Reed” – (Reed-Willis now).
She is an aspiring writer, and currently employed as an editor for McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., in Columbus, Ohio.
She even looks a bit like you with similar facial features.
I am really enjoying getting to know about you.
Good luck in your career.
A “Nikki” Mom
Jan Reed
Hey Nikki! My husband Craig and I met you at a Sage show a couple of years ago. I heard you got engaged – congrats! We just celebrated our 15th anniversary and the view from here is sweet! One thing that has helped us through all the difficulties in life is summed up in a quote I once heard, “True love is friendship set on fire!” The depth of your friendship makes your love deeper, the good times sweeter and the bad times endurable when you face them as a team. Good luck and may God bless you both!
I cannot even fathom what that must have felt like. I’m sure that is something that will stick with you forever. When I was 8, I was driving through georgia, and sure enough, the sky turned purple, and it started hailing/raining. Next thing I knew, there was a tornado funnel behind us, say…about 2-3 miles. It was so scary. I will never forget, but I was so young, I didn’t quite understand what was going on.
Dear Nikki,
I met you in Nashville at the Twilight Convention. I had a picture with you and told we both have something in common, which was our anxiety. You were so sweet to me and made me feel calm. I am so glad you have found someone special. I am 17 and I can’t imagine ever finding that special someone. Did you ever feel this way? Hope to hear from you. Go Team Twilight! Molly.
Thank you for the supporting the Red Cross and all the Southern states. So many cities were hit and every thought and prayer is greatly appreciated. I was lucky enough to be in the city of Auburn at the time which didn’t receive damage but I have many friend’s and family there were not as lucky so thank you a lot for shinning light on this and I am sure you have inspired people to give also and the power of praying cn never be underestimated. Thank you a lot!
and p.s. next time you guys should come visit the loveliest village on the plains!
Hello Nikki. It sounds like you were very lucky on your trip into a nightmare. I recently went through a similar experience myself and the feeling it leaves you with is indescribable. I live in a small country town in Queensland Australia called Warwick and we recently went through 2 separate floods in 3 weeks. Luckily, my home was high and dry but my 83 year old Mother was flooded twice. We were cut off from her and the rest of the town both times, but my Mother refused to leave her home the first time. I was in a panic but couldn’t do a thing. Luckily my son had friends near her and they went and had to forcibly carry her out. Her home was saved the first time but in the second flood she lost everything. After the waters went down, my husband and myself tried to get to my Mother. What was usually a 6 minute drive took us nearly 4 hours but I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life before. I had never seen anything like this before, three quarters of Queensland [a very large State] went under water. One thing I have learnt through all of this is to count your blessings. On the whole scale of things, we got of very lightly, what shortly after happened in Japan and various other places around the world has been horrendous, and I have realised more than ever before, material things can be replaced, but lives are so very precious, they cannot be replaced. I sincerely hope that you and yours got off as lightly as mine did and while I will never forget the last six months, I know as long as my family and friends are together we can get through anything. All the very best for your future and Good Luck in your future endeavours. Sharon Rankin.
Hello Nikki! Can I make a suggestion? I’m from Portugal, so I wanted you to do your beautiful wedding here in Portugal so also have a different wedding please Nikki!! I can not go there unfortunately, I Nikki peopl you I really enjoyed seeing your beautiful wedding live! Kisses Nikki thinks about it please!
Pleeeeeeeeeeease post soon! It’s been so long and we are all SO excited for you to mention Paul
<3
Nikki I’m afraid to marry Paul and dislike of your fans … I just hope it does not happen so I really like you very much Nikki if you did not exist I do not know what would become of me! Kisses Nikki waiting even if you do not stop liking us …
Hello Nikki! Congrats I know you gonna get married congratulations, but I guess I’m still dreaming … I am very proud of you Paul and you deserve to be happy! Kisses
Nikki…
I never know what to say after I read one of your posts. But I always feel the need to say something. I think when I read them I feel a sense of connectedness…because you write about experiences I think. I love the way you write, it makes me feel like…I don’t know. Experiences shared, ppl connecting…with all the “social” networks online, it doesn’t happen as often as one would think. But your posts give a sense of that. I can’t imagine what the daylight brought. I only hope you can let go of it, and only let it strengthen you in the future.
xo
Hi Nikki! I met you in Nashville at the Twilight Convention. My mom, friend and I were the ones in matching T-shirts that you commented on during the photo op. I know you hear this often, but it was amazing meeting you…if only for a moment. I was the one who wanted your email addy because I had taken a great pic of you on stage and you wanted it. Your assistant had me upload it to Twitter so that you could have it. You told me that we would have to be friends or such to exchange emails.
And for that to happen, we would have to go get a bite to eat. I promptly invited you to dinner!!! LOL I was dead serious, of course, but naturally your schedule did not permit it. I have thought of you often since then. (NOT in a creepy way!) I live in Birmingham, AL and when I read of your harrowing experience in AL it touched me. I am used to earthquakes, (I used to live southeast of L.A. In Temecula, CA) bad storms and hurricanes (Florida), yet nothing prepared me for that few days. We were lucky…the huge tornado that ripped thru Tuscaloosa passed to the north west of us. I’m so sorry that you had to go thru that! What a nightmare of a time for you and Paul! So glad you are safe. I think you are so talented and I wish for you a long, happy and super-fulfilling life. Please email me when you have a sec? I promise not to ask for your cell phone number! 
Meeting you was def one of the neatest things that ever happened to me. Ever.
Iamyourbiggestfan,
Tanya
WOW! Nikki,you’re so brave and so with him .. ^^;
I’ve experienced flood before and it made me really scared. But you, there’s no stopping you..
Stay safe ok.. And congratulations to you and your fiancé !! Best wishes ^——–^
Nikki you’re beautiful! [= ps…please don’t get married…
our Nikki is amazing how many people love you
from various parts of the world, you always have someone to tell you a “stand firm” or “move on because you are wonderful”
for then I hope you understand the wonderful love of your fans mad for the same twilight
XOXO
our Nikki is amazing how many people love you
from various parts of the world, you always have someone to tell you a “stand firm” or “move on because you are wonderful”
for then I hope you understand the wonderful love of your fans mad for the same twilight
XOXO
OMG…thank god you guys were alright. I live in Maine and thought we’d never have crazy weather like that, but in the last year we’ve had tornadoes, huge thunderstorms, and the winter blizzards are downright scary to travel through. I can’t even imagine what you saw though, never seen that level of destruction. My mom’s in the red cross, on call for grief counseling so I always worry when she goes out to disaster sites. I’m just glad you’re safe, to my friends and I, you’re a role model. We’re inspired by your journey and are working for our own dreams, so thanks for being you, and keep it real.
God bless!
Oh my gosh! I just heard that you and Paul are getting married! I can’t even put into words how happy and excited I am for you guys!
Love you Nkki
Hey nikki,I was wondering what you are working on right now? I was just wondering because I recently read The Mortal Instrument series and they are casting for the first book to become a movie called City of Bones.Anyways I think you would be amazing as Isabelle in the movie when I think of her I see your face because you are great a playing a strong female role.
Just a thought!! Have a great night!!
Wow…I can only imagine,all my family lives in Tennessee and Im in Hawaii so it was so frustrating when you know your loved ones are in danger.Im glad you are safe!!
WOOO!! PAUL IS YOUR HUSBAND GILR!!
Love you girl, Twilight love xox
E! News just confirmed that you’re engaged Nikki!!!! Congrats from all your fans!!!
She looks so happy!!! Check out the ring—>
http://www.mtv.com/photos/2011-movie-awards-red-carpet-fashion/1664140/6198204/photo.jhtml
Here’s the article confirming it too. Awesome
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b245565_twilights_nikki_reed_engaged_hes_one.html?cmpid=sn-000000-twitterfeed-365-top_stories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=twitterfeed&utm_campaign=twitterfeed_celebrities_top_stories&dlvrit=79438
omg.. I’m shivering!
Wow! You are ambitious…I am glad you are safe…I live in minnesota and live in fear that we are next. we are living in odd times right now… earthquakes, hurricanes and lots and lots of Tornados. If you get to Minnesota email me…I love to hike!! taunolan@charter.net
I bet next time your gonna listen….
Oh my gosh Nikki i am so glad that you guys are ok !
I also want to say that you write wonderful and i love your blog !
Hug from a Norwegian reader
Nikki Hello dear how are you? I saw a video that inspired me thy much I cried of happiness is this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRsB9Ss-G5s. Nikki, I was very happy about your action was very proud of Nikki … Nikki please get my phone number please Nikki I really want to talk to you this is my number: 915261527. My number is because I am from Portugal but Nikki please send me message, I know it’s a bit silly but my desire is to speak with you Nikki! Kisses darling I love you and very
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Hey Nikki,
It sounds like you had a very difficult time. I am from Tennessee this is actually my first year here. I never imagined what I was in for. I have seen some of the saddest destruction in my life. Peoples homes obliterated. Neighborhoods gone in an instant
What I can say is that we are lucky. Everyone striving to worked together to get through these times. Already we have made great progress because we are all going through this together.
Im very glad your okay. It sounds like you had a terrible experience. Thanks for writing about this event, I dont think a lot of people understand the extent of the damage that was caused by these tornados.
Lots of Love,
Scully
nikki, i know this is late but one of my mothers friends lost everything in the tornado. she and her husband huddled together in the bathroom. that was the only room that was left , the rest of their home was thrown many feet across the yard. They are great people and really need prayers even so long after the storm.
Hey Nikki,
I am really glad you both are okay but I am sad that you guys had to witness all that. You are a great writer and as I was reading this entry it made me feel as though I was right there with you.
You probably don’t remember me but I was the girl dressed as Rosalie in the baseball outfit at the Freemont outdoor movie event in Seattle, your friend took a pic of me…lol. Anyways, keep up the great writing and once again I am glad you both are safe and sound.
Love always,
Tracey Barrientos
Nikki poor thing you … I am very proud of you because you donate you money to the Red Cross … There are so many actresses who do not, they’re selfish, but you’re not a humble person! Are not you cold heart, you have a very warm and kind to beat!
I am so glad that you finally stopped at a motel. I live in Virginia in another hard hit area and drove home from college during the warnings right before the tornadoes touched down. It was the scariest trip home that I’ve ever made.
Hey Nikki!
I didn’t know how else to contact you, but I had to tell you a late Happy bIrthday. I was out camping the 17th, so I didnt have any internett so I could wish you a happy birthday on your actual day, but I hope this is okay.
Much love, Ella.
What a scary, surreal experience that must have been. So glad to hear that you’re safe; hopefully your next time in Memphis will let you see the city (more than just the airport) and you can get BBQ with your baked beans!
Happy b-day, Nikki:)
hope you have a wonderful day!
<3
Hey, I’m a huge fan and read your blog occasionally. Normally I never comment on stuff like this, but I’m from Huntsville, Al. So this post really meant more to me than just reading a person’s (who I don’t even know) blog. I’m glad you and whoever you were with are okay, and that you didn’t get caught in the actual storm. Maybe someday you can make it back to Huntsville when there isn’t destruction and power outages. Let me finish this by saying that my family and friends are all okay. I live on the north side of Huntsville that did not get hit as hard. We were really lucky, and so were my friends. Please continue to pray for all of North Alabama that was destroyed that day.
Happy Birthday Nikki!!!:) love you
NIKKI! HBD! so you can have very good today I hope you get lots of love are a super awesome person I admire a lot not only for your charisma if not for all that has happened and move forward so you could really want to be like you because you are one of the more synergies people I’ve seen the way you dress that I love and because you always have your big smile on your face that no matter what you’re going simpretienes your smile and I admire you too someday porder know (: in person and I hope you never change and you meet many more years (: cuidte much I love you dede Mexico greetings <3 <3 <3
C:
PS: sorry if not well written but just learning etoy :S jajaja
NIKKI!!!! HBD!!!!so you can have very good today I hope you get lots of love are a super awesome person I admire a lot not only for your charisma if not for all that has happened and move forward so you could really want to be like you because you are more synergies people I’ve seen the way you dress that I love and because you always have your big smile on your face that no matter what you’re going simpretienes your smile and I admire you too someday porder know (: in person I hope you never change and you meet many more years (: cuidte much I love you dede Mexico greetings <3 <3 <3
i <3 u
PS:sorry if not well written but just learning etoy: S jajaja sorry
PS: Happy birthday.
Wow, Nikki! What an experience. I too was traveling by car to New Orleans from Upstate New York. We traveled through Tuscaloosa on Sunday the 23rd prior to the storm. I was appalled at the devastation I saw on the news! On our return to NY this past weekend we traveled through Some of the areas hard hit. My heart goes out to those in the path.
HAPPY BDAY NIKKI!! I LOVE YOU..
THIS IS MY PRESENT FOR YOU: http:// twitpic.com/4yyzme
YANINA FROM ARGENTINA,AGAIN… =)
HAPPY BDAY NIKKI!!
twitpic.com/4yyzme
YANINA FROM ARGENTINA!
HAPPY BDAY NIKKI!!
http://twitpic.com/4yyzme
YANINA FROM ARGENTINA!!
If it were up to me I’d pack up all the nice things I could think of and bring them to you on this special day. But the nicest thing I can think of, which happened on your birthday, is YOU!
We love you very much.
1 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
2 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
4 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
5 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
6 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
7 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
8 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
9 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
10 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
11 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
12 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
13 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
14 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
15 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
16 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
17 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
18 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
19 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
20 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
21 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
22 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
23 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU.. ALL MY LOVE..
YANINA FROM ARGENTINA..
happy birthday nikki!
i really admire you, hope you have a good time!
kisses!
HAPPY BDAY NIKKI!!! FROM ARGENTINAAAAAAAA.
Nikki, congrats my best actress!! ;DD
All the best in this world to you!!
Continue this beautiful person inside and out!!
You are very happy today and always!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, much happiness!!
You deserve much more!! *-*
I love you so much ♥
;DD
/Brazil
Nikki!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!
From Argentina I wish you a fantastic Happy Happy birthday =)!!
I wish yu the best in your life ♥
Thanks for be as you are..
it´s well written?? jaja
Good luck
Happy birthday, Nikki! I genuinely hope you have an amazing day & all your dreams come true. You’re an inspiration to all of us with your incredible talent & unbelieveable beauty. We love you! <3
Wow.. It’s fascinating to me that you were here, in Alabama! I read your blog all the time, but I was afraid I would miss something when we went through that ENORMOUS power outage. It was terrifying. My parents yard had 14 trees fall down. It was crazy. Thanks for documenting your experience!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
YANINA FROM ARGENTINA!!!
This is for you… http://twitpic.com/4yyzme
Kiss (BESOS) =)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS NIKKI!!! TE QUIERO MUCHO!!
YANINA FROM ARGENTINA!!!
This is for you… http://twitpic.com/4yyzme
Kiss (BESOS) =)
Happy birthday Nikki!!!!!I love your blog!! You are amazing!!!!!!<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Sissel from Denmark<3
Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You
)
Happy in love, friendship, family and make your dream come true !
BEST WISHES ! :*
And Happy 23rd birthday, Nikki. Have a great day.
Hi Nikki, I’m glad you’re all ok. That must have been terrying. I’m glad to say that in England we don’t get tornados or anything but I really feel for all of the Americans who have been going through all of the awful storms and other things that have been on the news.
Hi Nikki,
I wish you a verry happy birthday
I wish you any best possible, and I hope I can really meet you one day. It is really my dream!
You are really my model of perfection and success!
so many kisses from France!!
Love
Cindy Beuret
Happy Happy Birthday again;D
I’m scared you can’t reed my comment, because a lot of guys write comments too
Greetings and best wishes from Germany;*
You’re my fave actress, and my idol, you’re so amazing and beautiful and … wow !
I wish you all the best ! *.*
http://this-is-cassis-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-birthday-nikki-reed.html <- Hope you'll like it (:
lots lots lots lots loooooots of love;*
Cassandra. <3
Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nikki !!!!!!!!! I hope you spend with people who love you and your loved ones !!!!!!!!!!! With love from your Italian fan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Nikki!I know it’s not the good place to post this video but I want to say to you HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJB2Y_nJ9oo
YOU’RE AMAZING
Lucy (Italy)
Nikki Happy Birthday … You are a great actress, I love Rosalie … =) From Argentina, I love you so much. Agus! Please answer me!!! =)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Have fun with Paul
PS I watched thirteen yesterday! Its AMAZiNG
Happy Birthday Nikki! I loveeeeee
I from in Roumain
You are beautifule
Happy birthday Nikki
Have fun!
Hi Nikki
Oh god, you write so vividly it almost made me cry, that must have been horrible, I can’t imagine experiencing that. I’m so glad you’re ok
By the way, happy birthday! I wish you all the happines in the world.
Much love from Denmark <3
Happy birthday my dear Nikki!!!☺
Best greetings from China^^ Love from the bottom of my heart is my gift to you on this special day♥
You’re the most stunning,amazing and talented girl in the world!!You deserve all the best wishes and the greatest happiness in your whole life…Hope your everyday is sunny day☼..
..and I’d like to say：“生日快乐”(“Happy Birthday” in Chinese)to you again..No matter what will happen in the future,we’ll be here to support you forever..
Big kisses and hugs☺
sunny from China!!
Happy Birthday beautiful Nikki!
I wish you all the best at everything you do.
Lots of love,
Ursa
Happy Birthday Nikki ! You’re the best !
Kisses from France, we love you !
I wish you a very happy birthday, with health, love and peace. Full of happiness
. Your big fan from Brazil. Luciana
Happy Birthday Nikki! Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest.
When I read it I just think wow,but I’m so glad that you’re ok and wish you the best birthday!
Love From Sweden
Erica,13 years
Happy Birthday sweet girl!! Thanks again for sharing a bit of your life with us. Does your pitbull shirt fit?
Hey Nikki!
Just wanna tell you that I really love you, youre the best and just amazing and Happy Birthday! Love Maja, Sweden
Happy Bday Nikki.! u have a lot of fun company of ur loved ones!
allison from usa <3!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ARGENTINA, NIKKI!!! I WISH YOU THE BEST OF THIS WORLD!!!
Happy Birthday Nikki! I hope You’ll have a wonderful day!
Lots of hugs, Karoline
Hey Nikki!!
what special day today is!!it’s your birthday\o/
I hope from the bottom of my heart,that u have a lot of fun around people that truly love you:your family!!
You’re amazing,inspiring girl.Look at your comments,people all over the globe wishing you the best,and that’s soo cool.You’ve been showing to us,yours fans how to be a better person everyday,how to care…You’re made to shine,for sure!!You have the must beautiful smile ever, and a great personality. you’re talented,sweet,and is pretty inside and out!!I wish you all the best…I hope you reach all of your goals through this year,because you deserve it.
hugs and kisses!
with love
mayara from “brasil”
<3!!!!
Hi Nikki,
Happy birthday. I wish you happiness, success, health, luck in your life. Never forget to smile.
I love you. <3
Alisa
Hello Nikki!!Happy BirthdaY!!http://s015.radikal.ru/i330/1105/91/47b9b7187f08.jpg
we love,your fans from Russia)http://vkontakte.ru/nikkireedvk
Happy Birthday Nikki!!
I wish you the best for your career and personal life and I hope you had a great birthday party!
Love from France to the most wonderful actress ♥
Dear,Nikki! Happy birthday! I wish you happiness,love and success in career.And with your face never descended the smile! With love, Elina from Russia!!!
Hey Nikki *.*
Happy happy Birthday !
Stay the way you are(:
You’re amazing ! beautiful ! brilliant !
;*
Lots of love, Cassandra.
—-> These is my blog, i’ve postet a picture for you(:
http://this-is-cassis-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-birthday-nikki-reed.html
Hello Nikki!
I just want to wish you happy Birthday! You’ve been my idol for many years and I wish you lots of luck, happiness, love, friends! I hope you will enjoy this day, have fun, spend it with the ones you love.
So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!
Danielle from n-reed.com
Nikki, I hope you have the best birthday anyone could ever have. You’ve changed my life more than you’ll ever know.<3 I love you so much. You are the best person ever.<3 You deserve the best in EVERYTHING. I know I've posted all of this on here before, but you really need it on your birthday.
Lots and lots and lots of love,
Erin<3
Hi Nikki I’m Italian!
Happy Birthday!!!!
I just wanna start with saying that I love you.
I love you to death and beyond.
You know how it is, to love someone you’ve never met,
to adore their work,
to adore their personalities..
I adore you. You’re truly the best and you make my days brighter.
I used to be kind of troubled, I was depressed, I found no meaning to do anything.
Then I saw Thirteen, and finding out that you shared the same feelings, problems, made me better.
I’m not saying the movie healed me, but you kind of did.
Because I saw interview after interview and video after video. Movie after movie.
And YOU are who I want to be, who I always dreamed of being.
You made it, and I want to be someone similar to you, but I want to be me.
I write a lot.. Stuff I feel, stuff I think about. Like;
“I think that
in my age, idols are very important.
And it is important
to have someone to look up to
while you’re growing to be someone yourself..”
It’s all here; http://couldbestronger.blogspot.com/
(And I have another one ONLY for you and a few others, but I got password and stuff because, like I said, it’s ONLY for a few ppl)
Anyway..
I get so mad when I see ppl hating on other ppl, without even knowing them, without ever talking to them.
But I don’t HATE the hater, since that would make me a hater too
But when I saw an interview when you said that some says that you’re not beautiful enough to play Rosalie,
they are so wrong, believe me!
And by the way, I’m sorry that my English isn’t perfect, I’m 14 and I live in Sweden, so I don’t really speak English.
I believe that I entered this world for a purpose.
I believe that I was given my thoughts for a reason,
so just sitting in my room, not sharing anything, is a total waste.
I believe.
What if I’m supposed to be the one I want to be?
I believe I’ll have to put some serious work into it, of course.
And I will, I’m so ready, but I don’t know where to start.
I don’t even really know what I want to do..
I just know that I want to be someone.
I want to matter to people & I want to make a difference.
Like my TP12, my idols.
I don’t want to live for nothing.
I would love to really be able to sing.. It’s my dream but I guess you’re born a singer, or not.
SO, my other dream is to act, but no one knows. It’s what I’m gonna work for, I guess.
To get the courage, to not be so shy.
Because..
I want to be who I am.
And I believe that I was meant to be
who I want to be.
And maybe I’m here for you, just to adore you, to send you love every now and then. (Even though you’ll probably never see it)
I did write you a letter, but I’m afraid to send it.
I’m afraid it’ll get lost somewhere and that you’ll never get it.
I’m afraid you won’t answer and I’ll be heartbroken.
I’m afraid that you’ll never know how much you mean to me.
I think about you all the time. You’re my hero, my role model. My best friend, even though you don’t know it
And please, PLEASE, tell Jackson & Ashley that I love them too. Tell them they made a difference too. Tell, especially Ash, that she’s loved. After Joe… she should be with Jackson..
I used to cut myself for several reasons, but I stopped. I got out of it.
Because of you, for you. And my other “TP12″.
And you said you’d advice young girls that wanted to be actresses to go to school, so I worked as hard as I could when I wanted to give up.
I’m serious. I know it’s weird, that you, who I’ve never met, who I’ve never spoken to and that don’t even know that I exist and that I breathe, could change my life so much.
It’s weird that I can love you to death, but I do. I really, really do.
And it’s not really your work I love the most, or anything you do, it’s YOU and your beauty inside and out.
You’re perfect.
And so with that, I just wanted to let you know that I love you
And I wanted to wish you
the very best birthday ever!
I’m celebrating you here at home, I promise.
And if I could give you a hug, I would.
But one day I’ll meet you, I promise.
I love you.
//Adelina adelina.t@hotmail.com
Happy Birthday from Portugal
Happy Birthday Nikki and have a nice day, big kiss
Happy birthday from Czech republic:-)
When someone is as nice as you it’s natural, you know,
For friends to often think of you and want to tell you so
That’s why this special greeting has come your way to say
That many warm and cheerful thoughts are there with you today
I wish for you to have a very happy birthday.
Thinking of you and hoping your birthday is a really great day – the way it ought to be for someone as special as you!
Happy birthday Nikki!
Greetings from sunny South Africa!! Happy happy Nikki!!!!!! I hope you have a fantabulous day and a very blessed year!!!!! xxx
God! I was part of the Queensland Floods in Australia, so I get what you mean. I remember driving to the supermarket and that we couldn’t get out of my town, because all roads were blocked. I remember the wrecked houses. I remember my pool flooding and my kitchen. It’s something that has stuck in my mind forever. Hopefully next time you fly it won’t be as hectic. I’m sooo glad you’re okay.
Love,
Chey xox
P.S- Forgot to add. Completely irrelevant. Have you ever heard of Planking?
Oh God. Look it up if you haven’t.
Love,
Chey xox
Oh! and Happy Birthday! It was my Medieval Day today, So I didn’t get to write it on my books. But Its in my diary. And I was talking about it on the bus!
Love,
Chey xox
Hi,Nikki!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
You beautiful!!!!!!! =)
Hi, Nikki! Happy Birthday! It’s my birthday too.
May God bless us with all the happiness in the world!!!!
Have a great 23!
Love,
LyLy.
You have someone watching over you, and I’m so glad your alright. You are so special to me Nikki and with that I would like to SAY happy birthday May 17: the day a superstar was born, Nikki you’re truly amazing and have touched my heart so much! 23 years ago the world got a lot brighter and then on the world has shone. Nikki you are so amazing and talented and have the best personality. You are so sweet and funny, and also beautiful inside and out. I hop you have an amazing DAY!
xoxo -Courtney
#HappyBdayNikki Happy birth day Nikki FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOs
i hope you have a wonderfull day all my love
Gaby frome Uruguay!
Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!
happy birthday to you!!!!!
happy birthday
happy birthday
happy birthday to you!!!!!!!
happy birthday beautiful women, amaizing actress and awesome writer
i love you precious
Hey Nikki I no this isn’t about your blog story but I just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday and I hope you have a brilliant day you deserve it , xoooxxx
It sounds to me like GOD or an Angel was keeping you both safe in that there were alot diversions from your destined path. You may have seen some of the destruction but you were not ment to see it all. Trust in the fact that you two are safe and sound and that you were kept from this terible event! Glad you were able to stay safe and were able to comfort each other in this horrible time! You are both truly blessed!
Oh Nikki…I am so sorry to hear all of this. I hope that your friends family is well and that they are safe. I also glad to know that you are safe and well too. What a day you had, what an experience. You are a very good writer and reading your words, I felt like I was there with you in that car. Thanks for sharing this with us; too many people just watch these stories on the news; disconnected to what the reality of it all really is. People’s entire lives were destroyed when those tornadoes came and took away their homes, their work, their schools and unforunately the life of someone they love. Again, glad that you are safe. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Nikki, My name is Arina, I Ukraini.Ya I do not know where to start … I know that you have no time to respond to messages while driving but I hope very much) I really like you as chelovek.You very funny, clever and very not the usual, talantlivaya.Chesno speaking, I started to monitor your creativity with all recently, and since 2008 as only looked thirteen.I you are not only able to attract their attention, and showed his acting talant.Ya simply can not find the right words, as you well played well played in filme.Glavnoe that you were able to show the main problem in filme.Otnosheniya between adolescents and roditelyami.Poroy very difficult to find a common language.I am very glad that there are such talented aktrisy.I I am confident that once you get an Oscar, and not one …=) How can please write me at my email Orina2009@ukr.net Thanks in advance.
Have a nice time.
Love you!
Arina
Nikki, so glad you are ok. It was a horrifying experience. I live in MS, not too far from Smithville which was completely destroyed. I work for a bank and we spent most of the day in the vault for safety. It was difficult being away from my child and husband who were both at school. We kept in touch via text messages all day. The loss of life and destruction leaves us all mourning. One would think you get used to tornados and such, but you never do.
omg! That must have been horrible for you to see! I’m so glad you passed safely! I cant imagine what it must be like to live in tornado central! I live in scotland uk and never have i experienced weather remotly that bad! Glad you are safe and well. Hugs! Xxx
I’m glad you guys got through ok. Those storms were horrible down here and I feel so horrible for the people who were hit-thankfully the storms skimmed just north of us. I grew up in tornado country and have been through plenty of tornados and all were scary. The thing a lot of people don’t understand is that the aftermath of surviving a natural disaster like that can be just as scary if not more so because you have nothing left and nowhere to go and there is nothing but destruction and loss all around you; there is an undeniable feeling of despair, uncertainty, and fear. It means so much to see the way local communities and people from all over the country have come together to help those affected by this tragedy. And I have to agree with you, it is very different to experience something first hand versus through the de-sensitisation of a television screen. I think when you experience such a tragic event of such magnitude from a firsthand basis it gives you a new and better understanding and sympathy for what others are going through. My heart goes out to everyone affected by such events and even though I can’t do much more than pray and donate a small amount to the Red Cross I do understand that every little bit DOES help, that sometimes it’s just that single extra dollar that can make all the difference.
nossa que sufoco! que bom que nao aconteceu nada de grave com voce ,e sorte pros outros. beijos e sorte na proxima viagem.
Wow. I can’t believe you guys picked that day to travel– bless your hearts. I actually live in a town about an hour from Huntsville and two and a half hours from Memphis. You probably stayed overnight in or very near our town, actually. Haha
But, yes, it was an insane day. Like you said, we’re used to tornadoes, and on occasion, they do real damage here and there. But never like this. One of the towns about 20 minutes from here was one of the worst ones hit, and just past them was another that was almost entirely wiped out. And the fact that Tuscaloosa and Cullman and Huntsville also ended up with such destruction, as did parts of Georgia and Mississippi, is almost too overwhelming to think about. It definitely hits you more when you see it all first hand, and it’s hard to process.
Wow, glad you’re both ok!
I live in the UK in Birmingham, we never get tornadoes! Never ever! But in 2005, a tornado ripped through parts of Birmingham. I was about 9 at the time and we were driving back from the shopping centre when we suddenly heard claps of thunder! We just thought it was a typical thunder and lightening storm so we carried on. Little did we know that we were heading towards the path of the tornado. My mom took a wrong turn by accident and only realised when we had gone down the road for about 3 minutes. By the time this had happened, the winds had picked up. We realised then that something was going to happen. In the distance you could see black clouds and debri flying in circles. “It can’t be” my Mom whispered. I could hear the fear in her voice. “It can’t be what?” By now I was panicking. Then out of nowhere tiles and trees were being ripped up on the road we were just on. Roofs had been lifted off.
: o oh nikki! you got a big scare me: / I can not really believe what you risk hisiste emasiado but thank God everything went well (: l god I can not think you could have happened but the good thing is that we’re right
Please take good care
greetings from mexico
i <3 you (;
[...] gonna assume Nikki’s recent trip down to Huntsville, Alabama had something to do with Paul too – after all that’s where the guy is from. Is [...]
I’m in the UK where tornado’s are pretty much unheard of, however we got hit by a mini one a few years back, I remember traffic being held up on my way home and I jumped off the bus eventually, walking around I could see roofs missing tiles, trees uprooted and other stuff Iwans’t used to seeing, i’d heard on the r adio that some peoples had to be evacuated, nothing quite that bad in area I think we were on the outskirts. But I felt like an extra in some Jerry Bruckheimer movie. getting off the bus howevr proved to be a slightly stupid mistake, police wouldn’t allow me to cross the road where I jumped off, if I’d stayed on and got off at the next stop I’d have been fine, but they deemed it too dangerous for pedestrians to cross, I had a 30 minute detour to get where I was going on foot. Howeever the complete relief on my face when I saw the house intact was my ultimate pay off. I’m Chris and this is the first time I’ve read your blog.
Wow Nikki what an adventure you had! So glad you made it safely home. So happy also my friends back there are all ok. Your story had me spellbound. Your writing is so good. I pray for continued well-being for you and your family. Love you pretty girl with the beautiful smile.
Nikki, I am from the a small town about an hour northeast of Birmingham.. The tornado was an EF4 when it came through this area. Homes two miles from my own were completely leveled. Some friends and family have lost almost everything they owned.
The destruction and devastation left in the wake of this storm is unimaginable, and something you can’t fully understand unless you see it in person. Pictures and stories are heartbreaking, but until you see it with your own eyes you don’t fully understand.
I am currently in nursing school at a local university. We have been going out to the areas of destruction to just clean up debris, handing out food and water, and doing basic wound care. We also go just to listen. The things we have seen and heard are unbelievable. The things people have lived through, the stories they have to tell seem like something out of a movie.
I know it will be a long time before we ever get back to normal, but even then I don’t think things will ever be the same for us.
It has made me appreciate the things I have, and realize that just losing power and water for 6 days is not that bad. I have a roof over my head. I still have important pictures, home movies, and other sentimental things that I would never be able to replace. My heart goes out to everyone effected by the storms.
Just please remember the small towns too. We aren’t as big as Tuscaloosa or Birmingham. I know there are many towns like ours that were in the path of this tornado that aren’t getting much attention. We are for the most part taking care of our own. We only had about 9 deaths in our county counted so far, but for such a small area that is a lot for us. The amount of people injured was unimaginable. Our two area hospitals were filled to the brim and then some. For something this big to go through here.. it completely changed our entire town.
Thank you for sharing your story, and doing what you can for everyone involved in these storms. Please just continue to remember everyone in your prayers for the months to come. It is going to be a long recovery process. Don’t take all that you have for granted because it truly can be ripped away in the blink of an eye.
You and HIM were SO cute on idol tonight omfg!!! He’s soooo cute!
Oh my God… That’s horrible.
Wow. What a trip!! So sad how many lives were taken and so many communities ruined. Praying for all those who were effected by this devastation!!
i’m really happy you and ‘him’ made it through okay.
and you 2 looked so cute together on idol tonight.
Enjoyed seeing you on American Idol tonight.
so many in our area have been paralyzed from fear from these uncontrollable forces of nature. glad you guys made it safely. safe travels always!!
Nikki,
I’m so glad that you weren’t hurt, at least physically. I have lived in the south all my life and I’ve been in the path of a tornado more than once. The worst was when a (BIG) tree fell through the ceiling of the room I was standing in. It’s scary and it does change you. It reminds us just how powerful mother nature can be and just how small we really are in the grand scheme of things.
Just a small word of advice from a caring fan, “Don’t you ever, EVER do that again! Driving TOWARD SUPERCELLS is NOT recommended, love!!!”
But seriously…
Seeing the aftermath of such a devastating natural disaster is humbling, but please don’t let your experience deter you from returning to the south. Thunderstorms are very common here but they seldom produce tornadoes. And the aftermath you witnessed in Alabama was from the worst tornado outbreak to hit the US in almost 90 years.
Just call it a lesson learned and be thankful (like myself, and the rest of your fans) that you didn’t get a rental right away and been a few hours further south when the worst of the storms hit. I’m very glad that you’re safe, even if a little shaken.
The world needs you, Nik. Stay safe, Love!
-T
Nikki,
)
What a nightmare! I can imagine how difficult it was. I got 2 friends who knew these tornados that week.
I think it should have been so hard to drive under so much rain, I did it one time, It was horrible.
Keep your beautiful smile, you are so couragous and strong. Try to help people if you can.
See you
(sorry for my english, I’m french…)
WOW,thanks for that insight,its so easy to sit at home and not apreciate the traumas in the world,sooooo glad your okay(though a bit shaken im sure )enjoy your birthday soon,keep on bloggin much luv nikki <3 <3
Nikki,
I am grateful to God that you are ok. Hang in there sweetie and know that you have a purpose in life and the fact that you came out of this ordeal is testament that God is not finished with Ms. Nikki Reed yet!
Hugs and Blessings!
Lisette
Glad you both are safe!
Rereading this post to traslated to a friend of mine,i just have to say that to you nikki:you aren’t only an inspiration for me and for your fans,you are brilliant,beautiful and a powerful woman!!
You defi. are such a special girl!!+___+
India Arie once sings:
“Cause you’re beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind”
and Nikki that part of her song fits perfectly well on you!!
take care!!
beijos!!
Te adoro!<3
For some reason my other comment isnt posting so let me try again. Glad you made it out okay. You are a very determined woman but next time be sure to check the weather forecast and listen to his mother. Mothers know best!
Hey Nikki my best actress!! I’m here again!!
Is coming on 13th May for my birthday!! LOL
I would like you send congrats to me here, if you want!! *-*
It’s coming on your birthday May 17th, I never forget your birthday, I’ll send you congrats in your day May 17th here, you’ll be happy!! ;DD
LOve you so much ♥
/Brazil
that is such a scary experience! I’m from Arkansas and we just had tornados come through about 4 weeks ago that tore up peoples’ yards and twisted trees right out of the ground and onto people’s houses in my area. Now the skyline looks empty and jagged where the trees once stood.
That is a story to remember. I am use to tornadoes as well. Seeing the devistating disater in Alabama was heart breaking. I have never had to experience a torndo(s) like that thank heavens. I couldn’t imagine how sad and scard you were. I am so glad you are OK and safe. It gives a new light though in my eyes!!!
Nikki-
Keep on writing
I’m obsessed with your blog.
Wow! Nikki, that made me tear up!! My first initial thought when I saw the title, was ‘Oh No she’s hurt!! :’(‘ I hope you are Ok and I feel for everyone who was hit! I agree with your first bit about not seeing it first hand and that your mind disconnects and doesn’t see just how real these can get! Really Really do hope you are Ok!
Btw, This was beautifully written! ever thought about becoming a writer??
And! Ps Happy Birthday for the 17th!! <3
First off, you are an amazing writer. So vivid and it’s almost as if I was there!
I can’t imagine what you went through! I hope the person you were with helped you through it ( btw, why haven’t you mentioned him! We know nothing about this man, we wanna know our Nikki is happy!! Haha )
I hope you two got through it well and were able to somewhat enjoy the rest of your trip!
Best of luck to you- and I expect your next blog to be on your new man! Haha! Love ya!
Nikki, I’m from Russia I translate your blog, you wrote so much, I beg you register an account on Twitter. Show concern for the Russian fans:)
I live in Connecticut. After an intense winter of below zero temperatures, ice, and blizzard after blizzard, the start of spring brought us torrential rains and severe flooding. A lot of people lost their homes and businesses due to the flooding. Unfortunately, little old Connecticut, and the rest of New England doesn’t get the media attention the rest of the country seems to get. Personally, I would have tried to find a hotel near the airport, and tried again the next day. I wouldn’t have ventured out like that. Glad to hear you made it OK, but I would have stayed near the airport, or tried to get back to LA.
OH GOSH!!!That sounds horrific..im really SORRY u went thru that..i got chills n i was just readin it…but thank God u’re alive and safe..God bless
How awful! Glad you´re okay but just think about the ones who aren´t. So sad…
Keep on as you always do, great and interesting writning.
Love and some tears.
what an experience. it sounds like it could have been worse, and that you two were cautious enough not to end up in more serious trouble.
i wonder if you now look back at the canceled flight, at not being able to get a rental car and at not even being able to drive out of the airport without incident all as signs that you shouldn’t have left, that maybe it’s best sometimes to stay put and wait out the storm, whatever that storm may be.
on the other hand, if you hadn’t left the airport, you wouldn’t have come to understand the magnitude of the storms and what the local people had experienced, so you would have remained more detached, like you were back watching the weather channel, and not been able to relate to their fear and loss.
i’ve been through two hurricanes, and i was able to get through them without any major personal losses. i know i’m lucky. and i know i have more empathy for others since i understand living through the fear of what’s coming, the storms themselves, and cleaning up the damage.
well, it sounds like it all worked out for you, and you definitely had luck on your side, so all’s well that that ends well.
this is awful…i`m glad tha you are ok :]]]P.S. you are amazing :*
Nikki,
I have just finished reading your piece you posted yesterday about the storm. I always enjoy reading what you have written, I check in every so often because I just love the way you write. I’m studying a short course in creative writing at the minute and I have to say you are one of my inspirations. I am just doing the course as it is always something I wanted to do and it has made me appreciate talented writers even more. I’m really glad I stumbled upon your website and I look forward to reading your next post.
Eimear O’Loughlin
Northern Ireland
First and foremost, I’m glad you’re okay! I’ve fortunately never had to go through anything too traumatic when it comes to weather. I think the worst was the blizzard this past year and being without power for 13 1/2 hours with it being 10 degrees outside. Lightning storms during a blizzard = weird but kind of fun. Anyway, it had to have been a very surreal experience to drive through something like that, and wake up to go through it all again in a sense. I’ve seen a town near me completely destroyed with my town not having any damage but a couple of tree branches in the road and that alone was scary. My only advice to offer is to keep watch on weather from now on and listen to parents. Sometimes they know what they’re talking about.
I am a student at the University of Alabama, and I was just across the street from the Hospital when the tornado hit. Thankfully I am safe, but several of my friends lost everything. Not knowing if your loved ones are alive or even safe…that is the worst feeling in the world. Phone lines were either down or busy for hours. After the storms had passed, a friend and I walked across the street to see what had happened and that sight will haunt me forever. My town was destroyed. Houses gone, hundred year old trees uprooted and thrown. Cars upside down and in places they should not be. Power lines everywhere. The smell of gas and dirt that filled the air is something I will never forget. We spent all day Thursday helping friends try to salvage their belongings, and tried to do whatever we could to help.
Thankfully, I now know that all of my loved ones are alive and safe. I am overwhelmed with the amount of love, and compassion that Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama has been blessed with. I just went back last weekend and volunteered, and I was blow away at the amount of items that had been donated as well as the number of people who had come to help out!
But I am also thankful for people like you. You have such an influence, and the fact that you use that influence to help bring attention to our city and our state in this time of devastation means more than you know! It is going to take years to get back to where we were before, but we will never be the same.
I just wanted to share my experience and express my gratitude for helping to bring awareness to us as well as sharing your own experience!
Thank you so much!!
Wow, didn’t know y’all went through all of that just to get there. I am so glad y’all made it safely. It is crazy what can happen in less than 24 hours. I actually got to see some of the destruction this weekend. It was unreal.
On a lighter note, I am so glad I got to meet you. You are super sweet. Hope you had a stupendous time at one of your “firsts.”
P.S. I love the way you write. It is very eloquent. You should write a book. I would buy it!
i am sorry that you had to experience that. i live in clarksville, tn and last year we went through the same thing here in clarksville and nashville with the flood. it can be devasting to see. but here we are getting use to the rain and the flooding.
Nikki,
I am truly sorry that you had to go through this journey. I am a resident of Birmingham, AL. I had a tornado track 4 miles from my home at 5:15 that Wednesday morning. I work for a large corporate bank, and I had to go to work in downtown Birmingham that day. It took me 3 hours and 20 minutes to drive 15 miles north of my home to the city. I was grateful when they let us out of work at 2 pm. I arrived home and watched in absolute horror as TWO tornados destroyed the city of Cullman (just an hour north of me). Next, I watched in terror and shock as the tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa. I have so many friends who live there and work there. I prayed that they would be spared. Finally, I watched in helpless petrified fear as the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, was heading directly for my home. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief when the news caster stated that the tornado shifted north on it’s path. My home was going to be spared. In the end, I watched in a sobering awe inspiring moment as the most enormous tornado that I have ever seen in my life, ravaged the northern area of Birmingham. That tornado hit one of the poorest neighborhoods in the metro Birmingham area (Pratt City). As if Tuscaloosa and Bessemer and Pratt City weren’t enough, that tornado continued to rip through several more areas that contained loved ones of mine. Pleasant Grove, Fultondale and Gardendale. As I watched that monster rip across my state, all I could think of was the poor people who were loosing everything. Their material belongings, their loved ones, their life. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever been through.
As you have stated, we are fairly accustomed to tornados. We experience several a year. However, this state and this region has NEVER experienced something as deadly and destructive as what occured on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. I will never forget that day.
I am proud of the way that my fellow Alabamians are stepping up to take care of those in need. I am proud to say that I am from Alabama. No matter how much money someone has, where they live and what religion they practice, we are all in this together.
I would like to implore that anyone outside of this wonderful region (the south east) please keep all of us in your prayers. I ask that you hug your loved ones a little more often, and do not hold your material posessions so close to your heart. You can always purchase more clothes, a new car or a new couch. You can not replace your family, and you never know when something like mother nature will step in to take it all away.
I’ve heard countless recounts of the events of that Wednesday from storm victims. I’ve read slues of articles. One common thread through all of it is the following phrase… “It happened so quickly.” Do not put off telling someone you love them. You never know when an event will occur and it can “happen so quickly.”
So glad that you’re ok! Tornadoes are no joke…they do not play!
Wowzers. I had no clue you were with “him” (if that’s how you’re referring to him) at the time of this, and it must have been devastating for the both of you. Excellent writing, and I can’t imagine how much you’ve been affected by that.
Wow! What an experience! I was concerned when he stated on twitter that he was getting on another plane. I replied, “I hope it’s not to the South, if so, hold on!” I saw after his next “update” that he was indeed coming home. You have shed so much more light on this journey. I am so thankful that you all stayed safe. It’s amazing how dark the night is without any city lights (and dodging floods and debris at the same time). This sounds like it could be made into a movie!! We were all without power for at least 5-6 days (but thankfully our neighborhood wasn’t affected). I love that he brought you home to Alabama, but I wish you could have enjoyed her at her best. I hope you can come back under better circumstances!!
THANK GOD FOR YOU BEING WELL.
NOBODY DESERVES TO PASS BY YOU PASSED.
MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN BAD WORLD.
AND IS NOT BEING DIFFERENT IN BRAZIL.
MORE PEOPLE SUFFER EVERY DAY.THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN.
IT IS VERY SAD.
HAPPY FOR YOU TO BE WELL.
BIG KISS.
STAY WITH GOD.
Hey Nikki!
Thanks god,you are ok!!!It’s sad what is happing to the world all over the globe…floods,tornados, earthquake, etc.There’is no respect and no love for the nature anymore =/
Nikki pliss makes me happy and come to BD brazillian premiere!!hehe \o/
you rock girl!!
with love
kisses and thousand hugs
Maya!!
That is so scary! I’m glad you’re okay.
Oh, Nikki I read your blog and always like a lot of things you escreve.Que Too bad your trip was not entirely as planned, more Thank God you’re bem.Me feel sad when I see pictures or news about that catastrosfes will now happening almost every day we have a news worse than the other, it is very triste.Mais we also think that good things happen in mundo.Então we can not shake that much, because agent ja ta live is a great blessing.
I really wanted you to answer me if pocivel Nikki comes in contact with my blog, put at least one comment is that I would be so happy.
Kiss
Never forget that I love
That. Is absolutely terrifying. Nikki, if anything happened to you… I honestly have no idea what I would do. Honest. You mean so much to me as a person. I love you.(: <3
Best wishes to you,
Erin. (:
P.S. I hope you never have to encounter something of that origin ever again!!! D:
Very glad to hear that you both made it to your destination safely. I’ve been so annoyed that Bin Laden has dominated the news all week, when so many people are still trying to recover from such destruction in Alabama. And now there are the floods in Memphis. Again, glad you are safe and my prayers are with all of those who are still attempting to recover.
oh Nikki, is so sad what you are saying! poor people… i cant imagen how sad it must be!
and im sorry that your trip went so wrong… they way you describe thing is so… incredibly sad…
i hope you can make your trip in another time… and for the affected people i hope they can overcome this…
all my love to you
Oh my gosh Nikki- That sounds dreadful:( I cannot imagine! You are an amazing writer, by the way!
I hope you are fine now! Why didn’t you mention pauls name once!? I’ve been waiting for you to tell us about him !
Nikki, your writing it´s really amazing, you make me feel that.
I´m glad you are ok =)
This is my first time in your blog, and i need to tell you, it´s wonderful…
I hope these people can will be alright again.
Good Luck in your life♥
Love you
I swear you made cry..your description is so vivid I just imagined everything in my head
I’m glad you guys are fine! <3 All my love to the people who suffered all these terrible things!
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you had to go through all that, just trying to get home! Shows we take so much for grant! Glad you are safe, and pray that others are as well! xoxo
Wow. Just wow. That’s an astonishing story, I feel awful that you had to witness such awful events just to write this, and I feel even worse for the poor people who’s homes and lives were destroyed. You write really well, and that gave me goosebumps!
Best wishes,
xx
*Stay safe and next time wait for a flight when its safe
— dang, auto correct.
I’m so glad you guys are ok. It looks like you made it safely. My friends were all fortunate to be spared also, I can’t even imagine what that must have felt like. I’m an Earthquake girl myself, so random winds destroying everything still seems unreal. Stay safe and next time wait for a thought when its safe
Oh Nikki. I bet it was more than some special experience for you. I had goose bumps when I read that. Your writing is wonderful, it gives heart and soul to every thing you write about.
I am so sorry for all families there and even for you that you had so exhausting road trip. But it’s good you are home again and I hope all these people there will be alright again soon.
Have a nice time.
Love you
Wow you are a very determined woman….maybe even a bit stubborn. Call me paranoid but sometimes I think you have to be willing to acknowledge the signs that nature and fate leave you. Your flight was cancelled for a reason, no one wanted to give you a car for a reason, and the weather was acting crazy and yet you still tried to drive in it. I am relieved you are even alive because the storms have claimed people’s live that actually didnt try to drive in it let alone someone bold enough to make the journey. Count your blessings because there were plenty of people who were lost in the tornadoes.
PS: Next time listen to the weather forecast AND his mother. Shrugging it off only leads to trouble. Don’t tempt your fate in that kind of situation. Mother nature always wins out.