Last night we drove up the mountain late. Some friends had set up camp nearby and their kids were going to sleep just as we rocked up. It was cold and windy. We ate our dinner in the safe cocoon of the tent, while watching a movie on our laptop.
We were about three quarters of the way through the film when we heard an almighty CRACK then the terrifying sound of a tree falling. PJ and I jumped into each other's arms, as if love was going to protect our flimsy bones.
"Is everybody OK?" a voice called out. We raced out of the tent to inspect the damage: a huge branch, about a metre in diameter and 15 metres long had fallen from the tree above our heads. It missed our tents and narrowly missed our car. All the campers on the mountain came with lanterns and torches to see what had happened and to inspect the inside of the tree that had been hollowed out by white ants.
It would have been romantic to die together, squashed into the earth by a tree. But I'm much happier to be where I am today, walking in the land of the living.
To test our luck even further (and to celebrate my birthday on Monday), I have bought a lotto ticket for this Tuesday night's $30 million draw. If I win more than $100, I will divvy the winnings amongst all those who leave a comment listing one reason why you're happy to be alive today too.
The giveaway is open to all residents of the world.
Winning payments will be made via PayPal only.
Bonne chance!
38 comments:
i enter in the spirit of the landbase, the spirit of chance and in the spirit of love.
Great giveaway :-)
I'm hapy to be alive ...so that I can enjoy moments of giggling fun with my family.
One reason only? I'll compromise with one long sentence! I'm happy to be alive for the love and special kisses from my daughter and man, for the adventure of life and the divinity of the mulberries in our garden. Life is grand, glad you're still amongst us x
Oh my, thank goodness you're ok. Happy Birthday for Monday and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you win tattslotto!
I'm happy that I can sit on the couch, watch tv, and read blogs on the laptop, while drinking milo and eating chocolate - bliss!
Wow. You are very lucky Meg. Mount Franklin is very beautiful.
I am glad to be alive today as if I were dead I wouldnt have been able to spend such a beautiful sunny day with my niece and sister in law.
Happy Birthday.
Shit meg....Thats a bit CLOSE!!! I am glad I am alive today so I can LIVE IT!!! Life that is...with all it's up and downs I still want to just LIVE!!! The rest will take is course. xx
You can keep the money if you win Meg but I am happy I am taking a day for myself today. No work, just wood on the fire, and me doing the easy going dance today.
I am happy to be alive as I am surrounded by love. also this summer break I have had a personal break through that work isnt me - and a kind of body mind identity shift - it is nice
happy birthday blessings miss meg, what an incredible escape form the widowmaker........ so much still in this life to experience, to love, to share, to listen to, to create......joy and adventures untold..... looking forward to spending some of those times in your company, much love, rachael and rider
I am glad to be alive this morning because: I started the day in bed with my 4 year old daughter and our kittens, and I've got good books to read.
I am happy to be alive today because
I am excited about what tomorrow may bring.
I am pregnant!
I am happy to be alive because I've discovered I love putting together jigsaw puzzles with Charly. I've also been drawing mandalas and journaling - I'd hate to think those last entries were my VERY last. I adore my family and the buzzing chaotic goodness when we are all together. I am happy to be alive to feel my skin against my partner's as we share sleep and keep out the cold. I am happy to be alive so that I can celebrate friends like you on the anniversary of your entry into this beautiful world.
If you win, I'd like my portion to be diverted to an organization working on sustainable, completely green, and FAST global transport so that you can lift your international travel ban. I live in hope. xx t
I'm so happy you and PJ are safe! And I loved your line: "PJ and I jumped into each other's arms, as if love was going to protect our flimsy bones."
I'm happy to be alive because I love the people around me, my friends and family, and I am glad I have another day to enjoy.
Thanks for you post. I've been feeling a bit down lately and it is always such a blessing to be reminded that life is a joy and something too precious to waste.
Good luck with the lotto! :)
WOW!!
It might be the 7moth preggo hormones but for me at the moment kids are the key! I am loving my boys so much and live everyday in amazement that I am helping them grow into wonderful adventure loving people!!
Happy bday for monday!!
How lucky are you guys! Being squashed into the earth together might have been romantic...in a way. I am glad it did not happen Meg!
Recently I heard an old Morrisey song, the one about getting hit by a double decker bus - "to die by your side the pleasure and privilege is mine" -
Sweet sentiments and a little funny too I think!
Next time I hear it I will think of your close call.
I feel so sure you will win tatts
1. Because you are so lucky
2. Because you are daring fate by giving it away!
One the best things about being alive today for me is enjoying a laugh, I would be crackers without it!
...tell me how to get a pay pal account when you win ;)
Michele x x
to the overlord of lotteries: i strongly urge you to give all your money to these souls. but you've probably already thought of that, you, you dark archangel of chance.
happy birthday meg! happy life to you both!
Could not possibly choose one but off the top of my head: children filled with glee, eating indian food, stack of books to be read, lond empty day stretching out in front of me, a blogsphere filled with people like you etc
Oh you are a hoot.
I'm happy to be alive today because in the last 24 or so hours I've learnt so much about myself and life and am reveling in the process of learning and growing and kicking the edges of my stuck complacency. I'm glad to be alive today because whatever happens I know there will be a glimmer of hope, love and learning in the experience if I look and listen hard enough.
I don't need a money prize, Meg. I won you in life's lottery and I have been grateful ever since (even when I was tearing my hair out). I'm grateful now that tree branch fell on the other side of the trunk.
Part of the joy I take in my life is to witness my grown children as they each make their own individual ways in the world. They continually delight and inspire me.
I wish you the happiest of birthdays. I suspect you've already received the best present. xx
I am happy to be alive so I can have LOTS of fun with my friends and family.
Oh- oh, was it me who said those trees are hollowed out but that you are not directly under one?
Methinks I should give up on ever offering anything that resembles advice again - ever ever..
I am happy to be alive because I have a home in Daylesford, the best and longest and only and most encircling home I have ever had and that home is partly encircled by Mount and Lady Franklin, the Lalgambook couple..they who giveth and regularly threaten to take away! The harsh and gentle lava lovers of truth! And you communed with them, most closely!
Happy birthday xx
Happy birthday! I am glad you are alive and that the tree branch did not hurt you.
I am happy to be alive because it feels good to love and be loved.
I was happy today to see my 5 year old girl wearing a dress that my mother made for me when I was 5. She traipsed around in it all day long and is sleeping in it now.
I'm happy to be alive today because today's cryptic has a cricket theme, and I love both cryptics and cricket muchly.
I'm happy to be alive today because I spent the day on the beach, playing in the sand with my 2-year-old and eating sausages with friends. How could you not be happy to be alive after a day like that?
And I'm glad you're alive too.
Good lord! Doesn't that just sharpen the colours when you look around! The smell of my boys does it for me. Soft nuzzles in the neck to smell them - every time. What more would I need??
I'm happy as today my boys and I filled our bellies with peaches, plums and apples picked from our trees.
as a fellow camper that nite, I'm so glad that you and pj were ok (and decided to leave your tent for the nite). we were all shaken - when I went to bed little otto asked me what had exploded...
I'm glad to hear you are ok. This is a hilarious giveaway and post (the romanticism of being squashed together). Well I am happy to be alive today because there is so much I haven't done and it is a beautiful day for doing it.
wow, you guys, living on the edge at mt frank! I am happy to be alive today because i never know what's going to happen next (tho doubt a tree will fall on this building)... how's that: some kind choclate fairy just left a bowl of treats downstairs, going to check them out, I knew something would happen next!
Hippy Bathday 2u mrs M... x
I'm happy to be alive today because my wonderful WWOOFers have done a job that would have taken me weeks to complete .... it's cool, even some rain and the garden looks great ..... what more can I ask for?
By the way Happy Birthday GEM XX Maureen
I am happy to be alive simply because I am alive, because I have survived a week of mind-boggling sciatica pain and because I have realised that I am surrounded by lovely, loving people. Happy birthday for Monday (today!), Meg - I am also very glad that you are alive after that treelimb-fall!
I don't know what it's like to be dead. And I don't like change.
Keep the moolah.. what a wonderful stash o comments! A wigglin' jigglin' Mogus in the hand is better than 2 squished ones in the tree. xxx
Whewww meg - close!
Loving the life my Jobson and Kescha are creating for me ............ and the life that is growing inside me!
Happy Birthday for yesterday, Meg.
Glad you and PJ weren't squished like bugs.
Glad to be alive so I can listen to the wrens squeaking outside my bedroom window.
See you
Simone
Well Im just glad you are all alive daylesford three
X
It is great to be alive in this world because there are so much interesting things to do in life without that nothing is more important. So enjoy the life as much you can
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