Blown Away

The Formerly Tallest Tree Out Back

I returned home yesterday to find the top of my hill scoured. There were some record winds in Worcester yesterday and my hilltop home was not spared. Fortunately it was rubbish day also. I found one of my two recycling bins at the bottom of the hill around the corner on an adjacent street. The canvas cover for our backyard grill is missing and presumed lost along with the second recycling bin. We did better than our next door neighbor whose recently installed roof was liberally distributed around the neighborhood.

The Line of Pine Trees and the Fallen One

My biggest surprise was in our back yard. We have a series of very tall pine trees that stare ominously down upon the house from the top of our hill. I found the tallest of those trees leaning precariously on one of its neighbors having snapped at the base. Luckily it was leaning away from the house and as I watched it continued its descent when the supporting branch finally snapped. Based on this experience I think a chain saw is in the immediate future of the remaining trees.

I head back under the knife today for my latest excursion into Mohs Surgery; this time on my face. So I have that going for me. Big sister, Great Aunt, will be accompanying me. Both granddaughters reported in under the weather last night with serious coughs. This time of year combined with the free distribution of childhood germs offered by day care generated the expected results. The FBR didn’t want to relinquish her cuddling position with my daughter so she could make dinner. Eventually the FBR acquiesced to a continued conversation with her goofy grandpa which freed up her mom for the requisite time.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé & MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals – female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at work; Deckzilla Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues