The Day the Oak Tree Fell

We were upstairs- me, my daughter Vivian (7) who had been snuggling in our room after a bad dream- and our daughter Zaida (5) who was sound asleep in their shared bedroom.

There was a crackling sound that proceeded to get louder. I heard my husband run up the stairs yelling, “Noooooooo!” and then it came in thunderous waves, destroying our attic and piercing through the second floor rooms, garage, awnings and God knew where else.

I had somehow lifted or dragged Vivian from the bed and was hovering in the doorframe between our room and the hallway landing.

I screamed for Zaida- but she didn’t respond. I was crazed with the worst thoughts possible- that the tree had fallen through the roof and she was no longer alive.

In those short moments, Vivian cried, “I don’t want anyone to die!” and began sobbing. Charles made his way to their bedroom and confirmed she was okay, just asleep. And then we knew we had to leave.

Lucky for us, if you can find luck in an Oak falling on your face.. the long branches took out the electricity before the wires fell where we were standing. Although, I didn’t look around in the immediate aftermath, it was amazing we'd made the flight down without incident, the wires were in arm's length the ceiling and insulation spread over both floors.

I had my keys in hand thinking we’d get in the car and go to my parents’. But, on second look, and unbelievably, both our cars were covered in the fallen tree and we weren’t able to get to them.

Neighbors came from across the street and next door to ask if we were okay. I responded we were in as calm a voice as I could, but the shock and adrenaline caused my body to shake making my keys play some horrible rhythm against my chattering.

The car ride from Elmway to Phillips St. was just 5 minutes, and our oldest daughter was talking a-mile-a-minute all the way. Finally, she turned to me and said, “I’m trying to change the subject, but it’s not working….” I was in my robe holding tightly to our kids, while Chas stayed back to talk to the responders of the 9-1-1 call. My dad had responded to ours and was swift to get us to Meme and Papa's and return with coffee and breakfast for my husband.

We were very fortunate.

And then we landed at yet another apartment. This one was in Waterville, OH off the appropriately named Pray Boulevard. Okay, God, I get it...!

These are some of the Cooking and Screaming dishes we had there:

Microwave Popcorn

Marco’s Pizza

Potato Pancakes

Perogies

Oven-Baked Salmon

Turkey Enchiladas

Ramen Noodles

Tuna from a Can

Each of these (in only my case) were accompanied with plenty of ounces of wine- the rule book of paring thrown out the window- while I tried like hell to make yet another apartment feel like home, the kind where the laundry pile doesn’t suffocate you in your sleep and the only table is the counter- covered in slime, sauce and God-knows-what else? (Procrastination, I think).

At the time this was written, we are still there. And, we are okay. Charles is home with the 'Winter Cruds' and the kids finally returned to school after Winter Break (and the first round of 'Cruds'). I haven't gotten them to my knowledge, because as we know, Moms Aren't Allowed to Get Sick. ;) 

Knock on wood. 

Happy New Year to you and yours. 

P.S. Check your damn trees. 

Love,

Ashley