At 3:00 a.m., The Prof and I awoke to what sounded like a train about to blow through our house. Having only experienced light winds (with the one exception of the freak tornado in Salt Lake City), I did not know what to expect. I envisioned taking shelter in the basement, gathering up our animals someplace safe while waiting out the storm.
A tree stands in the front yard and I like to think it stands strong. But knowing from experience, big old trees do not always make it in a wind storm, I worried about my friend, this magnificent tree, this tree that holds a squirrel family and lets bird feeders hang, might not make it through these types of winds. Not only did it have to face the menacing winds, lightening struck overhead with equal strength of the wind. I waited for the inevitable crackle and thud of a large branch or God forbid, the entire tree. I wished and hoped and begged for whatever power controls the universe, Mother Earth, Al Gore, what-have-you, to not take this tree yet. This tree is my friend. It shelters our house. It reaches for the sky and its roots dig down into the rich earth. It provides a haven for wildlife. With the loss of its counterpart in the back a few short years back, it deserves some more time.
I stayed awake, listening to the wind and thunder. One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand...counting the time between the lightening and thunder. I tried shutting my eyes but sleep did not come for me. I reached for The Prof's hand and he was still awake. Both of us awake and waiting. Eventually I heard the sound of his light snoring (and yes, I did my usual poke and kick to make it stop) and soon after, I must have fallen asleep.
We awoke with still no power and the winds blowing hard. A shower with candles, flashlights illuminating closets and cupboards, and matches to light the stove began our day. At this point, I am without my morning coffee so I will end this post with the good news: My tree made it through the night.
