It was a searingly hot but quiet evening at the Starland Recreation Area near Drumheller, Alberta, and every camper was enjoying the outdoors. I had just finished grilling up some ground sirloin patties stuffed with cheddar, and had made a tasty-looking burger topped with crisp turkey bacon for my little girl. Without nary a warning, an ominous black cloud reached its destructive fingers over the western hills, whipping up a whirling sandstorm, and causing utter pandemonium.
It was only the women and children at our campsite as the men had headed off to the nearby fishing hole to try to catch some Goldeye. It appeared that it would simply be one of the regular Alberta summer thunderstorms; but, this one turned out to be the craziest storm we have yet to encounter. It was like something out of a disaster movie. The swirling sand blinded our eyes as we desperately sought refuge for the elderly and young children. Tarps went flying, trees were felled, and barbecues were overturned spilling glowing embers everywhere. I quickly put my little girl into our tent with her dinner, hoping that the storm would blow over quickly. I decided to go back outside to retrieve more of our things when I turned around and saw that the wind had completely flattened our tent right on top of my child. With a fierceness of a mother bear protecting her cub, I swiftly ran to the tent, and swooped up my daughter in my arms. It was an act fuelled by sheer adrenaline - I felt superhuman! Tears were flowing, but we managed to stay safe, and, as an added bonus, the burger was saved, too.
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