my mom was across the street visiting neighbors when lightning hit one of the oak trees in her front yard. later she walked up the driveway, underneath it and into the house, noticing that the low branch seemed lower than usual and ignoring the urge to reach up and touch it. she wasn't inside for five minutes when she heard a cracking noise and looked out to see that the tree was going to fall, picked up the cordless to call 911 but just as the line connected, the tree went—clear across the driveway and the street, ripping all the electrical wires straight off of the house and taking out part of the telephone pole as well.

sorry i didn't call you back, she said. the street was out of power for a day or so. it made the newspaper, just a little blurb. someone drove by and said you should buy a lottery ticket, but she didn't understand what they meant until later.