We knew this was going to happen eventually. We have been begging our neighbors to remove this tree since we moved in. Basically, we knew it was only a matter of time.
The first summer after we moved here, the first big branch broke off. It was in the middle of a big thunderstorm, and this was when our bedroom was on the southwest side of the house. It was night and we were in bed when we heard it come down. It sounded and felt like our house had been hit by lightening. When we got outside, we realized it was one of the top branches, and that it had fell uncomfortably close to the house. We knew that when the whole thing came down, it would basically be positioned to fall right on the roof. So that's when we asked our neighbors the first time to cut down the tree.
The neighbors came and cleaned up the fallen branch and debris, and agreed that the tree needed to be removed. They told us they'd have it done by the end of the summer. Then they abandoned the house later that Fall, and we haven't seen them very regularly since. We bumped into them this past summer at Tonica Fest. They said
they were planning on cutting the tree down, and actually rebuilding a
new house on the property. They said that it was all going to get
started asap. And since then...nothing. So you can understand how we
don't have a whole lot of trust in their word. They still show up during the summer months to mow the grass on the property, but pretty much they have disappeared. And the tree remained.
At one point, we even priced it out and considered just taking care of it ourselves. However, as life goes the money has just been needed in other areas, and we haven't pursued it either. Although in the back of our minds, we knew it was coming down...one way or another.
So as far as the tree coming down, circumstances couldn't have been more ideal. We feel like in a lot of ways it has been a blessing, and a good reminder of how fortunate we are.
1. It happened during the day. We didn't have to worry that it fell on the house while Parker was sleeping in her bed (the side of the house where it fell is right over Parker's bed). We also could survey the damage immediately because we had daylight on our side.
2. It happened on the weekend. We were home when it happened, we heard it, and we were able to attend to it asap. That may have not happened had we or our neighbors been at work, or been occupied with other things, and couldn't immediately get to it. Also, our neighbors were home and were able to immediately attend to helping us out with it.
3. Nobody was on that end of the house when it fell. We were all in the kitchen, eating lunch. It sounded like a huge thunderclap, but shook the house, so I immediately thought earthquake. Except the ground wasn't shaking. Then Mark and I looked at each other, and both said "the tree!" We knew it before we could finish our words. We both ran back there, and I fully expected to see branches in Parker's room, through the window or the ceiling at least. But there was nothing. No cracks, no holes, no broken glass. The items on the shelf on her wall were even still in tact. This is where we started feeling pretty humble and grateful for how blessed we had been. No damage inside the house!
4. The way the tree fell is nothing short of a miracle. Of the 3 big boughs of the tree, the 2 left big boughs literally straddled the northwest corner of the house, so only the right bough actually made contact with the house. But because it broke in half first, it never rested on the wall, or the roof. Lots of the medium size and smaller branches did, but not the big ones which I would guess weigh quite a bit. There were huge sections of the tree trunk laying on the ground where pieces had snapped in half and broken off, which basically saved our house from being demolished. We couldn't believe it.
5. At first, the number Mark had for the neighbors didn't work. Because we live in a small town, we only had to call the first other B******-name in the phone book to find one of his relatives. It was his mother, and she got of hold of him asap. Because of that, he probably felt the weight of what was happening. Imagine your Mom calling you to tell you your tree fell on your neighbor's roof. Uh oh! His wife showed up, feeling terrible. I'd never met her before. She is obviously the sensible driving force in the family. She assured us everything would be taken care of, and was so glad nobody was hurt. So now he's got his mom and his wife on his case. He showed up a little while later. This is where we kinda go "hmmmm..." though. He showed up with 2 chainsaws. If he had chainsaws all along, then why didn't he just cut the cotton pickin' thing down himself to begin with?!?
6. He assumed total responsibility. He offered to clear off the big pieces from our roof, and cut up the remaining lumber and dispose of it. (Actually he wanted the lumber for himself, which it belongs to him anyway.) They told us they would pay for any repairs necessary, and were very helpful about the whole thing. It was probably the most we've ever talked to any of our neighbors in the whole 4 years we've lived here. Cool, I guess...I mean, under the circumstances and all. Ha ha! At least we were able to be cool about it, we didn't flip out, which is probably what they were expecting. Maybe we left a good impression in their minds, and maybe they will remember that the crazy Mormons next door aren't so crazy after all?!?
7. Our Insurance adjuster is here today, filling out paperwork for our claim. It looks like our policy will cover everything. We should have a check in a couple weeks. It's all good. And it hasn't snowed yet here, so we've got some time to get things repaired and fixed up.
So you can imagine how blessed we are feeling. It could have been SO MUCH WORSE!! We keep repeating that over and over. Thank goodness it wasn't worse! Thank goodness conditions were so ideal. Thank goodness that our neighbor hasn't been a jerk-wad about it. Seriously, it has been a wake up call.
Especially after watching footage the past few weeks of Hurricane Sandy. Natural disasters happen all the time people. Especially in the last decade. They happen everywhere. No one is immune. The important thing to keep in mind is preparation. Being prepared physically is priceless. Being prepared spiritually is also of the uptmost importance. Having the proper perspective, we feel, has helped us to recognize God's hand in our lives. We see this as His tender mercy being laid upon us, instead of a hardship meant to inflict punishment or hardship. We see it as a sign He is there, watching over us, and keeping us safe. Wow, it's been a spiritual experience.
