conv: I was so scared of tornadoes growing up -- whenever tornado warnings happened_comma_ I was extremely frightened! As a kid_comma_ I was SO frightened any time there was a tornado warning. Not sure if it was the Wizard of Oz effect or what -- I just remember being frozen with fear. Oh_comma_ wow! My son was terrified of tornadoes because of that darn movie_comma_ and we don't really even get tornadoes where we live! Did you ever live through a tornado? That's the thing -- NO! I mean_comma_ there were some that were kind of close -- but NOTHING like what so many folks have to deal with. I just remember wanting a basement sooooo badly -- not something that's common where I grew up! Aw_comma_ poor little thing! How did you overcome this? Or_comma_ are you still afraid of them? My mom said the best thing once when I was babysitting and a tornado warning went off and I didn't want my own fear to affect the little boy I was with -- she was on the phone and just said "You have big plans for the future_comma_ right? Nothing is going to get in the way of that." For some reason_comma_ it worked a charm ;-) Your mom sounds awesome!  Wow_comma_ what a cool thing to say!  