Tim-ber!

It’s pre-dawn. The first fingers of light have yet to stretch over the horizon. Birds are quiet, squirrels are still nested, and then a very loud crack is followed by snapping and splintering and breaking as another oak tree crashes to the ground in the woods across the driveway. There’s no lightning, no wind or rain to bring on this early morning calamity, but the previous night’s storm sent rain sideways through our open windows, and thunder rolled through the mountains while lightening kept the house more light than dark. Through the night this tree hung on, toppling just before another sunrise touched its leaves, just before the dawning of another bright and beautiful day along the base of the Blue Wall. ~K