Windstorm

The weather bureau said, “High Wind Warning.” Batten the hatches. Tie things down. Find your flashlight. Prepare for the worst.

It came out of the west. A stiff breeze at first, then stronger gusts and by mid-afternoon on the first day of the storm a freight train sound roaring through the tree tops, screaming around building corners. Worrying roof shingles. Seventy mile an hour gust recorded on the UW campus in Madison.

Tree limbs sheared off, trees uprooted, diseased trees smashed to the ground. Power outages here, there and everywhere throughout the Upper Great Lakes, through Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. Something to talk about. Stories to tell. Memories of previous storms to recount.

Two days of wind. So powerful. Mother Nature’s way. A periodic reminder of who is really in charge.

THE OLD TIMER REMEMBERS THIS OLD GERMAN SAYING: Let’s all stick together; everybody for himself.

CHECK THIS OUT: Tune in Wisconsin Public Radio on November 9, Larry Meiller show, 11:45-12:30. Discussion of my novel, Cranberry Red.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 3, 3:15 p.m. Wisconsin Library Association, Wisconsin Dells, Horse Drawn Days, Barns of Wisconsin.

November 5-7, National Farm Toy Show, Dyersville, Iowa. Horse Drawn Days, Barns of Wisconsin and more.

November 9, Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, 11:45-12:30, Cranberry Red.

November 13, 9:30 a.m. Sheboygan Falls Library, Horse Drawn Days.

November 16, 7:00 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Cranberry Red

December 2, 7:00 p.m. McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, Cranberry Red.

December 4, 10:30-2:30. Dregne’s Scandinavian Gifts, Westby. Book signing for Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days, and Cranberry Red.