We have Hurricane Irene to blame for my blog today.  I can’t think of anything else!  I’m still without power after losing it Sunday morning, so I’m sitting at my in-laws while I write tonight, grateful for a house with electricity.

Maybe I should have been more prepared.  But who worries about a hurricane in northern NY?  Blizzards… now that I take seriously.  But hurricanes are Florida’s bane, not mine.  So you can imagine my surprise to see my tree house topple out of a tree.  It blew, tumbleweed-style, across the lawn, coming to rest in our brook.  Before it was done, it ran into a group of poplars, and they all went down like dominoes.  I’m not sure it was the force of the tree house that did it.  I think there was wind at work there, too.

So… wow.  I felt like Dorothy in Oz watching the destruction.  And I saw the whole thing happen since the howl of the wind made me look outside right before all hell broke loose.  I figured that would be the end of it, however.  I’d already made up my mind that it was okay since my boys had probably outgrown the tree house, even if it was a fun base for Nerf wars or paintball.

Little did I know the hurricane show was only just the beginning.  Next to go down was another poplar.  Then, to my shock, the biggest tree in our yard came down- a huge box elder that sat in the front yard, a tree that used to frame our house perfectly.  It was our “photo-op” tree, the one that served as a backdrop to the first day of Kindergarten photos.  More recently, it was the background for prom pictures.  Sniff. 

I’ll miss that tree!  I’ve always looked for mature landscaping in any house we’ve bought or rented.  And that tree not only had a beautiful shape, it also had a picture-perfect swing hanging from one branch.  The chain was super long it, and if you sat on the wooden seat, you could wait for your company, overlooking the driveway.  Or you could see how high you could get if you pumped your legs hard enough.  Every now and then I touched the leaves with my toes.  I’m not much of an outdoorsy girl, but I sure enjoyed nature from my swing.

After the big tree fell, I was starting to think I’d seen enough damage and was about done with Irene.  But she had yet to land her biggest blow.  She knocked down a locust tree onto the power line going into our house, yanking the cord out of the wall and ensuring our electricity wouldn’t be coming on any time soon.

What a spectacular mess!  I’m counting my blessings today that all those falling trees didn’t cause more damage to the house.  I couldn’t get any of the family vehicles out of the garages today, but my husband and his friend sawed a path so we could use our driveway again.  Family and friends all offered help.  The boys’ friends were out in full force, carrying branches and making a pile of debris for the mother of all bonfires this fall. 

I hope Irene was kinder to you than she was to me.  And if not, I hope you’re finding the help of friends and neighbors as you dry out and reclaim your homes.  Good luck and don’t forget to change your flashlight batteries before the next storm!  I know for my part, I’m buying a generator. 

***tell me how you made out in the storm or share with me your own worst storm experience.  I’ve got  an advance copy of… so fitting… RIDING OUT THE STORM for one random poster.

www.joannerock.com