The winds were fierce here in the mountains of North Carolina last night as powerful storms whipped through the southeast. Luckily, I slept through it all. But this morning I was stunned to see that a huge oak tree in my backyard had fallen. All my life, I have been a big fan of trees. After all, I chose to live in a forest.

This particular oak tree was quite grand and shaded my deck and screened-in porch in the spring and summer, creating a beautiful place for me to sit in the rocker and read. Its limbs were also used by the hummingbirds as a place to wait in line for their turn at the hummingbird feeder. I can’t even imagine how many birds and squirrels lived in its branches.

So, I am feeling a little sad today because of having to say an unexpected goodbye to this forest friend.

Miraculously, the tree didn’t hit the house. And if the wind had been blowing in a different direction. . . . well, that would have meant no more writing southern novels for me. But as of this moment, I am still alive and well, and feeling deeply grateful for how resilient we humans can be, myself included.

It does seem, however, that we are being asked to weather a lot of storms lately. Literal storms and virus-related ones, as well as others.

How are you holding up?

May we all draw on a deep well of inner strength to get through whatever lies ahead. Stay well. Stay strong. Be brave.

Love,
Susan

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Note to newcomers: I love my reader community, so I am posting something uplifting on this blog and also on my facebook page every day at 4 pm (Eastern) until we get through the Covid-19 crisis.

Read yesterday’s post here.