As I mentioned the other day, my sister, Bird’s house was hit during the “DC Derecho” last week. We are all incredibly thankful that she’s okay, as the branch that came through her roof actually hit her, but its impact was blunted by the force of it going through the roof and hitting a beam. It was such a close call, and it’s sickening to think what could have happened if Bird or the branch was a foot in either direction. {shudder}
This is the night of the storm, with the branch sticking through the kitchen ceiling and a flashlight illuminating it. 
To add insult to injury, on the other side of the house, another tree had fallen onto her car!
Bird is such a strong person – she works in an inner city neo-natal intensive care unit in Washington, DC – and I know that even though this is trying every last scintilla of her patience, she’ll get through it with her humour, and her family and friends.
My mother and other sister, here in Baltimore, both got their power back on the afternoon of the 4th, so I know they were both thrilled!
Hope your 4th was great!
Oh my gosh! That must have been terrifying. I'm so glad she's alright.
ReplyDeleteThanks! We are all so thankful, too!
DeleteSo scary. The damage is terrible but I'm glad no one was hurt. This seems as if it could easily have been a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteSo scary!
DeleteI bet she wished it were totaled. Getting your power back on after awhile has got to be the best 4th of July ever. After the initial shock of a storm wears off, then one has to deal with the sweltering heat is terrible. Glad it wasn't worse.
ReplyDeleteI think it actually works better to get the insurance to fix it, since it was paid form.
DeleteAnd with this heat, everyone I know who's gotten their power back has IMMEDIATELY cranked down the A/C!
Meg, thank God your sister is ok. Having survived terrible damage to our house from a nor' Easter and a hurricane I can sympathize with your sister. Hopefully the insurance om pansy is good to her.
ReplyDeleteHope Connor survived the fireworks and you had a happy 4 th.
Take care, Elizabeth
I hope the insurance company is good to her, too! The poor insurance people are stretched very thin around these parts because of all of the damage and the wide range of it.
DeletePhew, that was a close one. If she lives by "The World According to Garp" theory, she now lives in the safest house on the street!
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That's funny! A friend's house got hit during Hurricane Irene last fall, and just as it was about to be finished, a workman did something that caused a flood, and then it was hit, but not too badly, last week.
DeleteHow terrifyIng! I'm so glad she's ok. It could have gone so much worse. As I've learned with the tornadoes from the past two years (my home was hit two years ago, and several friends were last year), stuff can be fixed or replaced but our loved ones are irreplaceable. Hug her a little tighter.
ReplyDeleteI got my power back on the afternoon of the 4th as well, and very grateful. These pictures just...I don't know...sicken me in a way. I live in a very old neighborhood with virgin oaks and my across the street neighbor had a 60-foot plus oak come down in her back yard. Thankfully all it took down was fence, but now there's a dispute with another neighbor about who is paying for what.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds funny? But during the worst of the storm, with over 80 mph winds, I sat in my stairwell with my telephone and a glass of lemonade, fearful a tree would crash through and hurt or kill me. And as you can see from reading the newspaper, Meg, it sadly did happen. SO thankful your sister remained safe.
I don't think insurance pays unless there's damage. They don't pay for downed trees.
DeleteI can see tons of damage without reading the papers, all I have to do is drive out to the main road and there are dozens of trees down along the sides.
So thankful about Bird, too!
When the power was off during a hurricane we would all go to someones house that had power + thank god for family. So thankful Bird was not hurt + your power is back on + arms around all of you. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteThat's what a lot of people have been doing. I had a friend here the other night. But after six or more days, all you want to do is sleep in your own bed!
DeleteThe truth is that we all encounter disasters in life. It is here where we find the the opportunity to grow and live life with grace and gratitude. Not an easy path. I'm so happy that every one of your family is fine. My BFF, Missy (who lives in Annapolis) lost a car to a tree (completely crunched!!
ReplyDeleteSending love, Mary
It's the way you re-act to things that is the measure of a person. Bird's been dealing with the kitchen renovation from hell, thanks to the ghastly people at Ikea, and that's been beating her down, but she'll bounce back, because that's how she rolls.
DeleteThank God she is OK and the rest of you as well! Those pictures are positively HORRIFIC!!!
ReplyDeleteShe can replace a roof & kitchen ceiling and repair a car! I know she is relieved to be able to do so.
This is terrifying. I'm so relieved your sister wasn't injured. Sorry that her house and car were.
ReplyDeleteEgads. Nightmare!
ReplyDeleteOmgosh, Meg! And shame on me for complaining about not having internet or television to watch. I am so glad your sister is okay. That is really horrible, and I'm very sorry. Next time, I'm sleeping in the basement.
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