Yesterday's Excitement

We had a rainstorm yesterday, not unusual in the Midwest this time of year. I was sitting at the computer, not paying too much attention, when something must have caught the corner of my eye. I turned to the window and saw the apple tree whipping and thrashing, literally hurling apples across the yard. It felt surreal, like the scene in The Wizard of Oz where the trees are throwing apples at Dorothy. I got up and went to the bedroom window at the front of the house. Maple leaves and twigs where whirlpooling in the air at second floor level. That's when I called to Mr S to get out of the bathtub and head to the basement, just before the lights went out. I stopped to close and bolt the back door, which had blown open and saw this.



(though I didn't snap the picture until things had calmed down).

After the storm passed we, and half the town, were out on the streets, surveying the damage, checking on neighbors, comparing notes. There was an odd sense of conviviality. Branches and trees were down all over town, but so far as I know no one was hurt. The volunteer fire department was out, looking for blocked streets or electric wires down. Even before the last lingering rain had completely stopped the sound of chainsaws could be heard from all quarters.

The sky cleared to brilliant late afternoon blue. We had an impromptu picnic on Brother-In-Law's porch next door and chatted with passers by. Dusk fell. Just before compete dark the power company truck came by and the driver used a long pole to remove some thingies from the top of the power pole, then replace them, then flip a switch. The lights came on. We applauded the power company man. Then headed back home.