Yesterday,  I got a phone call from the Fire Department.

As I looked at the caller ID display, flashing City Fire Department in red, I could only come up with two reasons the Fire Department calls: to ask for money for some charity or because something is/was on fire. 

I held my breath and picked up the phone.

"Mr. Landlord, one of your trees has fallen on your neighbor's house.  Your house has suffered minor damage."

As I processed his comments, mixed emotions flooded through my system,   Yea!  Nothing has burned to the ground.  Boo!  There's a big hole in a neighbor's house.  Yea!  My house has only suffered minor damage.  Boo!  My house has suffered damage.

"Which house is this?"  I responded.

Based on the long pause, I guess this is not a typical question.  He told me the address, which I should have already guessed because it is vacant. 

Now it is my turn to pause.  What do I do? 

I spent many years in school (more than i should have), but in all my classes, no one ever discussed what to do if a tree smashes the neighbor's house.

"I'll come over and look at it" was my feeble reply.

Half an hour later, I stood in front of my house. 

A once proud shade tree now rested across my neighbor's house,  slowly crushing an outside wall.  A fire truck was parked on the curb and a utility company employee was hurried cutting off the power to the houses.

A few spectators lined the street watching the whole process.  My neighbors stood outside their house. 

I expected shell shocked looks but people are more resilient than I give them credit for and everyone was pleasant.  I spoke with my neighbors and exchanged contact information.

I felt phenomenally helpless in the whole process.

I went home and called the insurance company.  In the next day or so, an adjuster will come out and look at my house.  That house already has a tenant lined up for it, so that clock is ticking to get the repairs done to it in time.

I presume that will be another adventure.