Sandy and the Pin Oak Tree

Hurricane Sandy swept through the Northeast causing much destruction.

Thankfully, we were spared.

Not but a block away on York Street, trees were down along with a power line.

Our lights flickered many times but the longest we lost power was for a few short seconds.

The worst that happened was our pin oak tree littered our yard with broken branches. Some of the branches were quite large and made a dreadful noise when they hit the roof, but no damage was incurred.

It is good. It would have broken my heart to lose the pin oak tree. It’s an extension of the house.

Sure it makes a mess every time a heavy wind blows through. It also makes a mess every Spring when the strings of pollen fall to the ground. Then, in Fall, it drops what seems like a million leaves. I am constantly cleaning up after it.

Yet, in Summer, it earns its weight in gold. To be able to walk out of the kitchen door in the oppressive heat and be immediately enveloped in an umbrella of shade is amazing. I live under the shade of the pin oak all summer long.

My father-in-law as well as my chimney sweeper recommended that I cut the tree down. It’s too close to the house. If it fell, it would destroy our home. I don’t believe I had anything nice to say in return.

I’d rather move than cut the tree down. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with this house along with the corner hutches and the arched doorways.

My heart goes out to those who were not spared by Sandy.