Severe Weather

Weather service have yet to determine if the severe storm May 15/16 was a weak tornado—I can only say that when I woke up Friday a.m. the damage was considerable. That being said: I slept through it. The Tiny House held.

Thursday had been a beautiful albeit HOT day. I’d run and biked and made food on my day off, which also included a playdate with both grandkids. That night I folded up lawn chairs and covered my fledgling tomato plants because I’d had a couple alerts that a strong storm was going to come through. In bed I checked radar and it said about midnight. I was way too tired and closed down for the night, thinking if I heard it I’d get up and check the garden. I did hear it!

My phone went off with a National Weather Alert—but I was too out of it to put 2 and 2 together. I told myself to ignore it, the garden would be fine, there was nothing I could do about it, etc. Not once imagining I could be killed.

The next morning I went out to inspect the garden and everything was fine—my daughter was dismayed: You didn’t see the downed tree branches! Shredded tree branches from the two HUGE trees in the backyard were crisscrossed, on top of one another.

Jack, my grandson, and I rode around on bikes to see damage in the neighborhood. It was extensive and amazing. Amazing I’d slept through the event. Cars were crushed and sections of houses lopped off from falling trees. We were awestruck, even gasped. People were out assessing the damage and school was called off. Where I work, Playmakers, down the street was without power.

I stopped and chatted with folks. Are you okay? I asked.

As we continued, the scenes of destruction continued to sink in. My grandson said, I hope Meijer is okay. We passed a place where we’ve seen wild turkeys—I hope the turkeys are okay. When we pulled back into the driveway, our house beautiful with the lush greenery and flowers and new bird bath that DIDN’T fly away, Jack said, We’re okay.

Gratitude, perspective. We were okay. Things are going to be okay.

Jack's favorite, the mushroom tree, came down