A little bit of drama

/ J. F. Riordan

It was very windy yesterday, and normally I am conscious of the dangers of being among trees in those conditions. But it was sunny and warm, and I was restless from writing, and Auggie was restless from being himself, so we were outside when a big tree came crashing down before our eyes, very close to where we had just been.

It was far enough away that we were not in any danger, but close enough that the wood dust flew into our eyes. We went indoors to find the bedroom doors blown open, and small branches on the floor. Eli, who had refused to come outside, was hiding. After that we waited for sunset, when the wind tends to die down, to go out again.

Life is precarious, so this dog photo isn’t really gratuitous at all. Eli insisted on resting his head on Auggie’s flank. After some pointed stares and couple of noises that were more groans than growls, Auggie permitted it. For a little while.

We have another big dead tree close to the house I had planned to ignore for a while. I guess I’d better call Johanna, our tree climbing, chainsaw-wielding arborist.

31 thoughts on “A little bit of drama”

  2. Thank goodness you and Auggie are okay, despite the dusty eyes. That must have burnt. And, I’m glad Eli has a beautiful big brother he can count on for comfort. I’d say you earned a stiff drink last night after that adventure.🥃 I hope you have Johanna on speed dial now.

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  3. Every little copse I spot while driving seems to have multiple dead ash trees. The lovely one in my neighbor’s yard which towers over my gardens will not leaf out this year– it was pretty obviously struggling badly last summer and lost all its leaves by mid July. It’s so sad.

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  6. Scrambling to stay safe and then home again. Auggie and Eli, taking care to calm each other and their Mom. Good that you have Johanna to call on. Her skill and strength are amazing.

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  10. Dear Jan, Just wondering IF I “reply” to some of your posts by simply replying to the email that I received, do you get those replies OR do they go to some dead-letter department at your publisher? Reason I wonder is some time ago—maybe a month or two ago—I replied and told you something about my origins, a thing that I do more now as I’m at the age, 77 years aware, that some of your recollections and musings make me recall events I’d not thought of for years. Anyway, just wondered as I never heard back from you. Yes, I know you’re writing so scant time for much else besides daily duties and discipline. Best to you. Ingrid PS. I love trees too. Planted 22 on my little place. Sometimes they get really old and tired so they can fall if winds are too great or soil erosion, too much rain or just plain time negatively affect roots or the trunk. Glad it didn’t fall on you or your pup.

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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  11. Glad you’re all safe. We also had very high winds here. ( Thunder Bay,Canada) Our two puppers were not thrilled with all the commotion.

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  12. Many years ago, when our son was twelve, a classmate was killed by a tall tree. The boy was on a hunting trip with his father in the Colorado mountains. A storm blew in, and the boy went to find one of the hunting party. When he did not return, they searched for him. He was found dead under the weight of a fifty foot tree that fell on him. I’m glad you and Auggie are safe.

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  13. So glad no one was injured! You don’t know the power of a falling huge tree until you’ve heard it. Almost sounds like a bomb going off.

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  15. So glad you and Auggie are safe. There’s nothing quite like the sound of a huge tree falling. It’s like a bomb going off.

    I’d say Johanna has more work to do!

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  17. Oh that’s hair-raising … I’m so glad you’re all safe. Wood dust in my eyes would make me cry on both counts and curl my toes for what could have happened. Again, I’m so glad you’re all safe!

    dp

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  19. Ah, poor Eli. Glad Auggie lets him take some comfort there for a while. I like to hug his neck and kiss on him. That’s what I do with Jake, my cat, who is afraid of people and noises.

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  21. I’m so glad to hear you and Auggie are safe. Log dust would have made me cry on two counts, and curl my toes on what could have happened.

    The photos of the boys are never gratuitous. Always warms the cockles of my heart.

    dp

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  22. Did Augie seem to have any inkling the tree was going to fall before it did? I ask because Tom Ryan, a writer from NH who hikes and travels with his 2 dogs, Samwise and Emily, told of Samwise stopping him on a trail in the CA mountains and absolutely pushing his body against Tom’s legs, refusing to let him go forward. Suddenly a huge oak tree fell with a tremendous crack across the trail ahead of them. He believed that Samwise heard the sound of the tree beginning to crack before he could hear anything, and saved him from being hit by the huge tree.

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  24. Glad you and the li’l big boys are safe!! That was scary indeed. Poor Eli, what must have gone through his head – all alone and a big crashing sound. Yikes.

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