It’s Been a Crazy Week.

It’s been a crazy week.   

In case you didn’t hear, Iowa was hit by a derecho last Monday.  I’m guessing you’ve either lived it & heard SO much about it you’d almost rather hear about covid again OR you’re wondering what the hell a derecho is.  So I’ll tell you just in case. 

A derecho is a large fast-moving complex of thunderstorms with powerful straight-line winds that cause widespread destruction. 

Now, Iowans are accustomed to tornadoes.  So much so, the tornado sirens went off during my kickboxing class that day, but most of us stayed the remaining 10 minutes, anyway.   

It didn’t look tornadoish (yes...a new real word) outside.  It was fine when class started.  We had all been through tornado watches before. 

Tornado forshmado.   

But then we learned we actually hadn’t been through THIS before.  

The wind nearly pushed my van off the road on my 10-minute drive home.   

And once I arrived home, because common sense tells us to do so during strong winds, Matt & I stared out the windows for another 10.   

When I saw what I considered a “big” branch (at that point) fly past the window, I suggested we go to the basement.   

So Cuddles, our cat, & I did.  And as midwest men typically do, Matt stayed upstairs to watch the storm.   

So I sat in our basement with the howling winds & our howling cat, & texted staff at the daycare where the boys were. 

I learned everyone was physically fine.   

They were all under tables & desks in the center of the daycare, & the staff was singing songs in an attempt to help them stay calm.   

(Daycare staff & teachers should make millions.) 

Eventually, Matt yelled it was ok to come upstairs, & when I did, he was at the top of the stairs wearing bright yellow, Gorton’s fisherman attire, which, he was quick to remind me, I had apparently suggested we “get rid of” at one point… 

Then I looked out to see our 50 foot trees spread across our lawn. 

So after moving a fallen tree to create a path out, working through the newly created obstacle course & taking an alternate route due to fallen trees, I picked the boys up at daycare & was grateful to SEE they were safe. 

Funny how an event such as a derecho, a tornado, an earthquake, WHATEVER not only reminds us WHAT we’re grateful for but of HOW grateful we are for it.   

The trees didn’t REALLY matter… 

Our barn door (half of which remains MIA) didn’t REALLY matter… 

Our recently constructed trampoline we ordered in March & JUST received didn’t REALLY matter… 

None of the things that were destroyed REALLY mattered.  

And that’s what I’ve heard from EVERYONE impacted by the storm. 

“We’re so blessed.  We lost 20 trees, a tree took out our porch, & we still don't have power, but it could have been so much worse.  Everyone was safe.” 

“A tree landed on our house, we lost most of our siding, & all our food spoiled because we've been without power for 5 days, but so many people have it far worse than we do.  We’re all ok!” 

One of Izaak’s friends had to leave the new home his family had just built & moved into 4 months ago. The garage & half the roof were lost, & water worked its way into every crevice. 

His mom said all they could do at this point was laugh.  They were lucky & everyone was safe.   

So wherever you are, I encourage you to consider…If a derecho (or disaster of any sort) were to hit today, what would matter the most?  And live your day with that in mind.