It knocked down the tree house. Our poor darling tree house. Loved by many, many children. Such a loss.
This shot was taken through one of the broken windows in the barn. Yesterdays left over tornado winds went for windows and doors.
The second thing is that I was looking out the kitchen window when I saw a small barn door break loose and begin to knock itself to bits, so in my ballet flats and a pinny (I was making cakes for the kids) I quickly ran out to fasten it again. I was very quick. Very agile. Like a woodsprite dancing through the wind and falling branches, laughing at the storm. I grabbed the door and hauled it against the wind, latched it back, called out to Sheila not long now darling, she grunted back trying not to show her resentment at being locked in. Daisy went ‘yoo hoo.’ Soon Daisy Paisley. Soon, I called at the top of my voice like a song. I was the King. I had it all in hand, I called. We have had storms before darling, I said to Boo, who leapt and whined at his first bad storm. .. We are OK.,I said,
On the way back to the house, I ran across the grass and up the path, leaping for the steps that I had climbed a thousand times before, I never step on the first one I always run up two and sometimes three at a time, with the wind at my back I could leap the whole lot I thought and did, but a growl came from the sky, the skies lights dimmed and the wind let loose with its other ideas – gathering its forces. After beating up on towns along the way, it hit one of its 60 mile an hour gusts. And as I reached the top of the steps it picked me up, said – that’s enough of you – and threw me back down the wet steps, backwards, no purchase, no stopping. I had this sublime moment when I saw myself tumbling down on my back, twisting then hitting each step with my little bottom, like a caricature, a joke, a cartoon, a doll. The wind roaring about me with all the fury of my past, my ears sung with it, snarling, biting and then I hit the bottom and all was blue and silent and I thought .. Am I hurt? Is this bad?
Wind moved on, flicking his cruel sharp tail at my uncombed unruly hair, hurling his abuse at the saddest sky, Sky could not help. Wind had had his say. Sky, my Rangi, could only watch. I wept for him. I cried out for home.
I slid to a halt with one foot beneath me and one stretched out and watched one of my little shoes fly out ahead and Wind zipped back and blew it out of reach then laughing like a dark cloud in a cupboard, he was gone.
Rangi watched as I sat very still and took a deep breath. My minds eye, blue as blue, moved about my body counting bones and muscles. My skin a canvas stretched thinly above muscle and tissue. All present and possibly correct. Wait, Rangi and my Mother (who has been dead for years) said. Stretch each limb first so we can see. All four were good, though the legs were slow to obey. There was a delay. Get up, I said to them. NO, they said back. I used ‘language’ my legs ignored it. Wait said my Mama.
After a while, after cruising through my body checking and rechecking, I had trouble getting up. The hurt was in the deepest bone, a primal bone, a comical bone. A pivotal yet laughable bone. The coccyx, the tail bone, the glutimous maximus. I would say rise, get me to my feet and it said. No.
Now, I know you are going to tell me to get to a doctor. All the doctor will do is give me drugs. Pain relief. Probably codeine. Take two of these he/she will say after 30,00 dollars worth of xrays, then go lie down. For reasons that I do keep close to my chest, I choose to have nothing to do with doctors At All Anymore. (Note the capitals) I have had more than enough of them when I was young. And have not seen a doctor in over 25 years. I know this might make you mad but I am your test case. Let’s see how long I can go without entering the deeply screwed up medical world. Food cured me. Just me though. I am not saying you should do this. But do not tell me to see the doc. I know what is wrong with me. It will be OK.
I have a miniscule hairline fracture in the left quadrant of the lower bit of the coccyx and then I bashed up the sacroiliac joint. Only a little, a teensy hairline fracture at the most. I can point to the bone for you but it is so BORING to discuss .. and very painful to sit upon. All this without xrays.
It will get better in its own time. I will be a wee bit slower than normal for a while. The animals don’t care. I don’t care. Being here is the most important thing.
Because not far from here, very close in fact, there is dreadful damage from the tornado that whipped up this wind. People have lost their homes. So it could have been much much worse.
Love your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
137 responses to “The Bad Wind Came and Did Two Bad things”
I feel your pain, I fractured mine many years ago and was laid up for 9 weeks after falling down some stairs at work that some kind soul had left slippery wet without putting up a notice. Wishing you a speedy recovery and no nasty lingering effects.
Oh NO! To all of it!
I’m so glad you posted. I was thinking about you and wondering what the situation is on the farmy and I’m glad everyone is OK. Holy smokes you took a tumble. I remember crashing down on my bottom so many times during my figure skating years and the pain of a fractured tail bone. But then I was in my teens and not at this ripe old age. So hugs and commiserations. Hope the recovery is a speedy one. Too bad about the tree house; that wind was hell bent on landscaping, wasn’t it? Thank goodness it was just the tree house. Hugs and cushions for you.
John is getting out the chipper to deal with all the branches that came down and miserably the Coupe seems to have sprung two leaks, we have puddles in there.. which is bad news. He has a few days off so was able to do the chores for me this morning. Which I hate. But I can still stand, sittiing and lying down and bending over and getting back up are almost imposssible. But tomorrow will be better I am sure.
Sorry for your pain. Just keep moving. Slowly is okay.
How did you fare? Did you get that first big blast?..
We were lucky – just lots of branches down and things tossed about. My in-laws’ old, leaning barn collapsed in on itself. Luckily, nothing too important was in it any longer … except many memories!
So sad to see those old barns go down, but they were made of locally milled timber in the days before treatment, they just cannot last forever we need to paint ours soon, to try and keep it going a while longer..c
oh no! i am sending all the best wishes! get well soon…
wishing you quick healing.
ice/heat/ice/heat….you get the picture.
p.s. just wanted to say….you are most likely one of those people who are totally “in tune” with your body….*intuitive*….one would say….you pay attention….and there you have it….
I am usually pretty vigilant about avoiding injuries.. but I can feel the bones that need to heal, it will work out.. c
This is too scary! Tooo close! But far better the tree house than our Celi and John! Take care of that injury friend. Lots of ice! I was so so worried about you last night when the reports started coming in. Then, I checked in the comments gallery to find you well and commenting after it was over. Thanks for that! (I think, perhaps you were somewhat protected under a Fellowship Prayer Bubble.) I don’t think I could’ve waited until this morning to find out if you were ok! You do have a deep cellar to shelter in if need be, don’t you? Shudder!
we do have the basement, but when you look at the damage a direct hit makes, i am not sure a basement would help very much.. it is over now, but came very close..
Glad to know you’re okay. I’ve been thinking about you all morning. Oh, and … OUCH! xx
Ouch indeed, bloody annoying too.. c
I did something quite similar 2 years ago, plus chipped a bone in my elbow, when I fell on the icy patio. Oddly, I was also wearing ballet slippers. Go figure.
aha, I blame the slippers then! c
I heartily agree, Celi, that you don’t need the doctor. I did the same thing about 10 days ago and it is slowly improving with nothing more than the occasional aspirin and extra wine with dinner. I find ways of accommodating it and go more slowly, thinking ahead to how I’ll do that next thing. Stairs are the worst because they require those particular muscles. Ouch.
So sorry about the tree! But not far from you, many people lost their homes and barns to that terrible storm.
Take care, listen to your mama.
I know, it came very close, those poor people losing their homes.. tornados are terrible..
I promise you will feel much better in about 2 weeks IF you are sensible. Not too much bending and sitting (forget any prolonged bouts of writing unless you can do it while lying on your side). I also used Icy Hot on the affected area, a direct application of aspirin but stinky-minty smell.
I survived the spring of 1974 in Cincinnati when we had 18 tornadoes in one day, so I know how terrible they can be! I could see them dancing along the hills above the Ohio River and, just when I thought it was safe to come out of the cellar, I saw a baby one come right down our street, flipping over each parked car as it passed. Awful in the original sense of the word.
I’m really sad that the Coupe has a leak. That shouldn’t happen in a brand new dwelling with such a sturdy roof! And we all like the Kiwi Builder so much, I hope it isn’t his fault.
those tornadoes souunds just dreadful, you will never forget that baby tornado I bet. And thank you for the 2 week window, I can do 2 weeks!! I am typing standing up and yes, I do agree that the writing will go to notes only for a wee while, it really impossible to do on my side. No bending is the toughie!! Today I will not sit at all, lying or up and moving, I have found the position that is pain free so i return to that as often as i can.. thank you for your help,.. c
Ouch! I’m glad you weren’t all blown to Kansas – I was thinking about you when I saw the news last night. Get well soon 🙂
Oh C I was thinking of you, especially as you said yesterday how dark and ominous the sky was. The tree house is repairable and will not take that long before you will be enjoying it again.
your magic with words is super-duper. Even the ravages of a storm can sound enthralling which I know it wasn’t…but you my dear friend.. that is a different matter entirely..you have been injured, damaged and flattened by a wind ( sort of took the wind out of you). No point in even mentioning doctor so l won’t…can I say ..take it easy..but you won’ t.
just try to be a bit gentle with yourself, I wish there was something I could do….yes..there is.. I will speak to my buddy on high.He will get you sorted….. just happy that you are still alive xxxx
I will be fine, and thank you.. the tree house is gone with the great branches that held it up so completely irreparable I am afraid. But there you are.. at least it did not hit the house on its way down. c
Glad it did not take you further away… I’m getting it in the neck at the moment, having had a car accident 10 days ago, I know I’ve whiplash and don’t need to spend the thousands the Dr will want to tell me the same…
exactly, did you get yourself a collar to wear, sometimes they are the best things for whiplash.. and time, as you know. Glad that your car accident did not do worse damage..c
Yes got a brace on and find it damn un comfortable, but Linda will kill me if I take it off…
good on linda but i can imagine it is a pain to wear.. hopefully you feel better soon,..
So glad to hear you are mostly okay. Take care, and I hope everything heals quickly and well. I understand avoiding doctors. I think listening to your body is the smartest thing you can do.
So glad and sad to read this morning’s post. You know what to do to heal, and we’re all right here to hold you up… figuratively, if not literally. Easy does it.
that storm chasers link was a hige help, it gave me time to get the barn and animals in good order before the winds hit.. thank you for that.. c
Oh C! First I am so happy to see your post. I was worried for you yesterday. I am glad to hear you and the animals are ok. I do wish, of course, that you were not knocked about and not in pain. I wish you speedy healing. I can just imagine how scary and surreal that must have been. Let me know if you need anything-truly.