Nothing quite like Mother Nature

[Storm Chaser]

I was given my first camera on my 7th birthday. I ran outside, looked up, and took a Polaroid. Today, 43 years later, I still enjoy being behind that camera. Mother Nature has never ceased to amaze, scare, and spark my curiosity. When our youngest son was born, I was in Florida; covering Hurricane Andrew. I have been an on-site camera man most of my adult life, and for one organization for nearly the last two decades. During the busy hurricane season last year, I barely saw my family. I was never home. When you're assigned, you go where they send you. Although time with the family can never be replaced, time with the boys and girls out on the road, covering one of Mother Nature's beastly sons or daughters can never be forgotten. It's a great life, if you can take sleeping in vans or boarded up hotel rooms. It's not for the faint of heart. Take care.

[Radar]

Thanks for the post Storm Chaser and giving us alittle inside view of what you do. My 9 yr old daughter sounds exactly like you when you were 7 yrs old. She is a weather hound and loves to watch the weather with her untrained eye. She some day aspires to be a Tornado chaser and "Storm Stories" is her favorite show. I hope she does get to live out her dream, however, now I realize (thanks to your post) that her "dream" may also come at a price. Kudo's Storm Chaser for putting yourself in the eye of storm to bring us the up to the minute news!

[brunota2003]

Your daughter sounds like what i did at that age, only a few of years ago, as im 15 now, lol i still want to chase tornadoes, but have moved closer to intercepting hurricanes, i should be out there next hurricane season with Mark Sudduth, after Sept 18th, provided i keep my grades up, and if any landfalling TC's hit on the weekend it requires very good grades though to make your dreams come true... who knows, maybe we will both have our dreams come true...

[Radar]

brunota,

whether it is hurricanes or tornados or both you decide to chase, I hope you get your dream job... Good luck to you

[Swimdude]

This is why I love S2K, right here. People like you.

[brunota2003]

This is why I love S2K, right here. People like you.

Amen to that brother, cheers...

[brunota2003]

Hopefully they will only be TS's, no Cat 5 the first time, PLEASE... or:

[Storm Chaser]

Study hard. Find a passion. Dream big. My life is enriched, not only by the people I have met, but by the people I will never meet. Aristotle, Shakespeare, Dickens, and the list continues on. My own children have a passion for the weather, but none of them have taken that passion toward their careers. I have one at NASA, one at Georgia, and a teen-ager. The greatest lessons we have taught our boys is to be themselves, find their dreams, and chase them. If you want to be a meteorologist, be one. The only one who can stop you is you. However, be prepared to fight for what you want in this life. Don't let the first few setbacks make you quit. You'll miss the hard-earned reward. Take care.

[brunota2003]

its funny, i might start "chasing" hurricanes next year, but Ophelia decided to chase me instead...

[wxmann_91]

Study hard. Find a passion. Dream big. My life is enriched, not only by the people I have met, but by the people I will never meet. Aristotle, Shakespeare, Dickens, and the list continues on. My own children have a passion for the weather, but none of them have taken that passion toward their careers. I have one at NASA, one at Georgia, and a teen-ager. The greatest lessons we have taught our boys is to be themselves, find their dreams, and chase them. If you want to be a meteorologist, be one. The only one who can stop you is you. However, be prepared to fight for what you want in this life. Don't let the first few setbacks make you quit. You'll miss the hard-earned reward. Take care.

Thank you for reminding me that. I hope to become a meteorologist when I grow up.

[Aslkahuna]

If you want to be a Met, study hard in the physical sciences-especially Chemistry and Physics and MATH and when you get tired of those, study more of them-especially MATH. It's best to have Calculus I at least under your belt when you graduate from High School. Finally, plan on absolutely NO Social Life your last two years before you get your Bachelor's degree (and more if you decide on Grad School). Oh yes, learn to function in a sleep deprived state.

Steve