22°f, cold blowing snow after a wild night of high winds and occasional pelting rain. Not a fittin' night for man or beast...
...or vans, apparently. That's my poor Toyota van under a massive oak.
But oh, the back!
Squish.
I spent a couple hours on the phone with the insurance people, who were so careful to tell me where it might be taken for repairs. Really. Also spent some very cold minutes getting these photos for them, so I think by now they might be reconsidering the repairs possibility. Ya think?
I am sad to lose this sweet little van. It has been a workhorse for us and never given us any trouble in the 4+ years we have owned it. It was almost paid off too. Ah well. The hunt begins for a replacement as soon as the insurance guys decide that yeah, can't fix that.
I am not too upset, though. No one was hurt. We didn't even hear it happen, although the dogs barked themselves stupid when they first saw it at daylight. That got us up, yes it did. I am sad to lose my van, and to lose the swing and picked fence that were crushed by this big beastie.
Derek will come tomorrow with his big chainsaw, and he and Larry will begin turning the 60-foot oak into firewood. At least it won't go to waste. Then we can empty all our stuff out of the van. We had just finished stocking our booths yesterday so there were only empty totes in there, thank goodness. Oh, and 2 bales of straw (carefully wrapped in plastic) for the chicken house. Those are smashed under the tree. The two middle seats are never in the van except rarely when we need them.
In other news...well, I guess there really isn't any. I was released from physical therapy Monday on a trial basis, and my knee feels better already. I swear they were doing more harm than good. Remember I took last week off from therapy? My bend was better than ever and my knee was flat. I still did my at-home exercises and I think those do me more good than the pt people were. I will keep up the exercises here, and see how it goes.
Off to bed to me. It has been a long day!
Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.
Not a sight you want to see, but like you say no-one was hurt.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you have a woodworker who might be able to use some of the oak wood?
I don't know anyone, gz. We have so much timber on our 40 acres that if I did know someone, they'd be welcome to some wood.
DeleteI am glad that no one was hurt...I would still be pretty upset though. So happy that your knees are doing better, Sue.
ReplyDeleteWell, really there was no need to get upset, as we couldn't change what happened. So we looked more at the humorous side, because might as well laugh! Of course it puts a crimp in our plans, but we feel fortunate that no one was hurt, and the only real loss was the van.
Delete...ouch!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'm glad no one was hurt, but that's not what you wanted to see when you got up. Here's hoping for a quick insurance settlement.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, I am hoping they will resolve the claim quickly. USAA has been good in the past, so we shall see.
DeleteOh Sue, I'm so, so sorry. And yes, glad no one was hurt, no merchandise damaged, all those things, but who needs that at anytime, much less now. I'd be shocked if the insurance people don't total that one. The most expensive firewood ever, I think. But good news on the PT release. Just keep at it -- but gently. Big hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeanie! I was waiting for the third thing you know---after the problems with the well and hot water heater. I didn't have to be such a big thing though!
DeleteWell, that isn’t nice. It reminds me of the time that a tree fell on the roof that we had just built.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That would be much worse, AC!
DeleteHad you not told me it was a van I would have never guessed. We've had good luck with our insurance company when we've had an issue, hopefully you will as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, USAA has been good in the past. We shall see!
DeleteThat tree sure did squash your van. And you all (including dogs) didn't even hear it fall. Something about when a tree falls in a woods and nobody hears it... Glad the van didn't hold any valuables!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe we didn't hear it! But it was a noisy windy night.
DeleteOh, no! What a smash up! But like you said it can be replaced and that it didn't happen with you in it.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Marcia. Just a shame to lose such a dependable vehicle.
DeleteYour poor car!!!!
ReplyDeleteI admire how "cool" you are with the desaster. But, yes, no living being was hurt.... Will the insurance pay?
Best wishes for your knee (and you).
Yes, insurance will pay, how much remains to be seen.
DeleteThank you for the knee wishes!
Empathy! Is this the oak you'd been keeping an eye on? Glad you'll be able to work up the logs for use. And glad the van had just been unloaded for your booth!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, you sure know! This oak seemed so sturdy. No idea it would fall. But we are surrounded by big trees. Kinda scary.
DeleteOh sorrow! What brought it down? Wind, I guess. JG gets a look in his eye and cuts or has removed the big old trees, just to prevent what has happened to you. I mourned our 150 yr old maples at the gate, but not as much as I would have mourned a squshed car.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were not in it and there were no valuable breakables.
Re knee. Be careful carrying heavy stuff up stairs. Otherwise, you go, girl. Advice from the two new knee lady.
Yes, it was wind. We have many big trees around us, kinda scary.
DeleteGood warning on the knee! I will have to remember that as we move booth furniture.
Good grief. Our car was 'totaled out' for far less damage than that. I find it interesting that your insurance would tell you where you had to take it for repairs. I would not like that as there are some businesses in town that I choose not to give my business to.
ReplyDeleteOh, they have a list of garages they trust to do good work. Our neighbor's business, fortunately, is top of their list. But we can't drive the van anywhere, very unsafe and who knows what's broken underneath?
DeleteMy bet is that they can't fix it, ya think. :)
ReplyDelete