Blowin' in the Wind

At 3:15 or so on Saturday morning, I woke up in a storm (don't always, by any means). Lots of lightning, but windows closed, so all was well. As I began to drift off again, the wind hit the house with the force of an object. The house--not just the windows--shook. Up I got, and then realized the electricity was out. I went to Tim, who was awake also and fully aware that the electricity was out, because his bi-pap machine had started beeping. We discussed a what-if-tornado plan (head to the inside hallway, close the doors, and pray).

Then I went to the windows and watched an incredible storm--or what I could see of it. There was a blackout effect, without light and with rain slamming against the windows.

Suddenly, as the rain subsided, I could see a new "fence" outside in the back, near our deck. Turned out it was the neighbors' trampoline, which had traveled over 3 fences and an apple tree to land upside down in our driveway.

But that was not the worst. The worst was TREES. In every block for as far as I could walk, at least 2 or 3 trees down, broken, smashed by wind or burnt by lightning. You never saw anything like it. I hope.

The electricity came on three days later, and after we cleaned up spoiled food in the refrigerator, and got Tim home from the hotel where he stayed for two nights, all was well and peaceful again.