I suppose it could technically be called a surprise.....but it definitely wasn't tidings of great joy.
In order to fully comprehend this, we should turn the calendar back a few days to December 10th, when Tennessee (and other states) was having a night of severe storms and tornadoes.
Just before dawn on Saturday the 11th, there was a severe storm and tornado warning for my area. There was nothing I could do but stay in bed, watching the lights blink on and off, and listening to the screaming wind.
The house shook and trembled, and the horrifying sounds outside catapulted me into a panic mode. I thought the roof was going to blow off.
The next day I reluctantly went out front to look for damage. My roof was still intact and everything seemed to be all right. About a dozen far away trees had toppled, but they weren't on my property.
I went back inside, counted my blessings (which are pathetically few), and forgot about the storm. Lately, I've been feeling so rotten - physically and mentally - that I haven't felt like doing anything. I just stayed in the house for the next few days.
It wasn't until Wednesday the 15th that I ventured outside again. The weather had turned unseasonably mild, so I went out on the back porch.
I was so stunned at what I saw that at first it didn't fully register in my muddled brain.
The forest is right near the house and a cluster of extremely tall trees is only a few feet away from my bedroom. Every time there are strong winds, I fear that the trees will crash onto the house and pulverize me.
Well....
drum roll is inserted here for dramatic effect
numerous trees did topple down (I don't know how many) and some of them landed inches (yes INCHES) from my house and back porch!
I was a fraction away from being annihilated.
Since my pathetic life was spared, I suppose it could be called a Christmas miracle.
But I personally think God saved me solely because he enjoys slowly torturing me. Killing me quickly wouldn't be any fun.
I awkwardly started moving the debris away from the house by hand. Fortunately, I have a new chainsaw which will come in handy. It should only take me about a decade (or two) to clear everything out. By then I'll be in my early 100s.
I took a few quick photos (from the back porch) to document the event, but they don't really convey the devastation.
A gap in the forest where the trees came down,
about thirty feet from the house....
Some of the rubble near the house ( I cleared a lot of it away before the photos were taken)
