If a tree falls.....

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a noise?? WHO CARES! A tree fell in our back yard and I heard it before it fell! I was in the back yard, securing some last minute things as a wind storm was winding up. This wind storm was from remnants of Hurricane Ike. As I was standing on the sidewalk in our backyard I heard a cracking sound behind me. I knew right away what it was and I didn't waste any time. I took two or three steps, twisting my ankle, and dove toward the corner of the house covering my head. As I landed I felt the tips of a four foot round tree fall on the backs of my legs. I managed to get out of the way just in time as the tree crashed to the ground just behind me from 20 feet in the air....whew!

As I realized what just happened, I saw my new grill, picnic table, even the garage, and sorrowfully, my motorcycle crushed under a tangled mess of branches. I heard Holly screaming for me in horror that I may be under the tree and I let her know I was fine. I thank God for allowing me to be aware enough to scramble without even seeing the danger, only sensing it from the sound of cracking timbers. The house was resilient. The brand new gutter on the back side of the house needs replaced and the shingles were gouged, but the roof or structure did not break!! Wow, a lot to say about the materials used to build houses in the 1940's huh!

I called the insurance company to make a claim on my bike and they will be out this week to look at it. Holly called her dad and he came by with a couple of friends and chainsaws! We got to work on her right away, Randy sawing away for 30 minutes before I could even get my bike out of the mess. My tank took a direct hit, denting it on both sides. My handle bars too took a hit, bending them crooked and breaking off the mirror as you see in my hand in the picture. There was so much weight from the tree that it bent the kick stand straight out!! This concerns me that my frame or forks may now be bent. As I stated before, I'm just glad to be ok. We'll be back on the bike before you know it and we'll keep on, keepin on.....