Falling trees and "Mi-Report" – when "i" became the story

Tree 3 – Cars 0

Every day, we sift through the throngs of submissions from iReport.com, always looking for the best pictures, videos, and stories... you know the deal.

Well this week one such iReport happened to hit - and when I say hit, I mean HIT - a little too close to home!

Let me explain...

We're in a drought here in Georgia, but you would never know it from the constant pounding we've been getting from thunderstorms every week.

So it was about 1:00 in the AM when I was stirred by lightning so bright it blinded me, even though my head was buried beneath not 1 but 2 pillows (it's a womb thing, don't ask.) And as if if that wasn't bad enough, it was followed by the clap of thunder that shook the bed violently!

Okay, so lightning I'm used to... the thunder that's sure to follow, yeah I've heard that before... but the subsequent "cracking" and "crunch" - umm... not so much!

I ran to the window and looked outside and couldn't believe my eyes. My girlfriend's truck had a tree in the bed and as I recall, we weren't hauling trees that day. Of course being a guy, my main concern was my car.

I had to get a closer look and video evidence for our insurance company, just to prove that a storm DID actually occur and COULD actually can cause this kind of damage.

I ran outside and started rolling, then like the little girl that I am, I just as quickly turned around when a lightning bolt hit not more than 20-yards away!

As I get back inside to report my findings to the girlfriend, I instead choose to do the "Balki Bartokomous dance of joy" because my car was unscathed... and then morning came.

In the daylight I could see that I’d have to retract my “dance of joy” and instead do my "smug jerk who thought his car didn't get hit by a tree branch while laughing at his girlfriend's misfortune" dance of misfortune.

But back to that "iReport" I mentioned at the beginning. Let's just say, my "close call" has nothing on what nearly DID happen to a young lady in upstate New York. I don't want to give away the story, but let's just say it involves another falling tree and another totaled car!

It's an amazing story and just goes to show how in one second or in a matter of mere inches, how close we can all be to meeting our demise.

Long story short... keep doing what you do iReporters, because I HATE being the story!