Fire In The Night, Big knife saves the day.

I was working in the yard (3+ acres) when lightning started getting bad. I retreated to my back porch and popped a beer. My neighbor to the North came by to bring me a shrimp casserole she prepared....more beers. Then it started really cracking with lots of sharp cloud to ground strikes nearby. I remarked jokingly, that I was glad I didn't stay out or I might get struck from collateral damage when my neighbor to the South got hit (she has at times been intolerant of my shooting and never was friendly to my neighbor to the North). Boom! Lightning struck her pump and a huge pink ball of fire erupted. I called the neighbor, but she was not home. So my dear neighbor Sissy and her boyfriend ran next door, in the middle of the storm to put out the fire. I assisted, as I still had my Big Chopper strapped on from yard work. I Cut a trail thru the palmettos and and Sissy put out the fire with buckets of water as the power was out.

Kosher fresh eggs from the neighbor's hens were our reward. Just do good and the karma wheel will work. I bet Sissy gets invited to the next oyster roast. No, my Jewish neighbor to the South does not keep a kosher diet, but now she knows that her semi-heathen Christian neighbors care about her. Love and doing the right thing is its own reward. But I'm looking forward to those fresh eggs. My wife, Susan just loved it all. We are blessed. Just be a good neighbor and you will eventually have good neighbors.

Good to hear everything worked out

We all gotta look out for each other in these crazy times in which we live.

Had we not been on my back porch, we would not have seen it. While I have long since made peace with the neighbor to the South, she never invited my neighbor to the North to her oyster roasts. I bet that changes now. We have all become a tight knit community in recent years. We help each other out all the time. Now this one event will unite us more, as Sissy put all such differences aside to save her neighbor's property. Our political, ecomomic class, or religious differences are shrinking into insignificance. This makes me happy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'll let ya'll guess which big knife I was using. It is one that whacks bush well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

VIC, good on you and Sissy/boyfriend. Don't know why your neighbor wasn't all that friendly, but I'm glad to hear this has or is changing.

No matter how much we think we don't need anyone else, we do, at least at times.

Great work Vic and friends. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

These are difficult times for many. The housing crash has cost some of my neighbors a lot because they were contractors. A survivalist mentality has become the norm. Some have lost property and businesses. But we have all had to adapt to the new conditions, and some have started gardens and such. I am happy to say that I have been on good terms with most of my neighbors for a few years. We truly do need each other. Love and forgiveness go a long way to getting rid of past petty ill will that was rampant when I moved out here in 2000. Today turned out very well indeed.

Keep up the good work Vic, You can bring the community together into a close knit helpful and happy community, willing to help one another.

I am glad that everything worked out and your neighbor is very lucky to have a neighbor like you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Good story and: agreed, sir!

B1

Glad no one was hurt.

Just goes to show: EDC'ing big chopper is always a recommended!
Good job. It always feels good to give your knives a good work out.

i realize that this stuff gets embedded into some peoples characters but I never can understand why anybody would hold onto this kind of stuff. just hard to believe people carry around a laundry list of reasons to be at odds with somebody or something...

it's good that neighbors can look past the obvious and be what they obviously should be. good neighbors... hopefully some of this will leech out into the rest of the world.

Thanks for sharing this expierence and the words of wisdom

Dan

The lightning knocked out the wall outlets where my computer plugs in. Fortunately, the cord is long enough to reach a good outlet. We had another thunderstorm today, so I still haven't finished my yard work. But at least our homes are still standing. We have no fire hydrants out here. Got the ac folks coming back tomorrow. It's always something out here beyond the suburbs. Sissy teases me about always having a big knife or machete nearby. But yesterday she said "Chop those palmettos out of the way so I get get this water right on the fire". Yep, out here, you need a BIG knife. I think I'll go eat some farm fresh scrambled eggs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

soon you can carry a MOAD and leave your busse combat mistresses behind wink

Oh it will be mine it will be mine all mine. I'm a sucker for the big blades. They are so useful in this area.

Those Palmetto leaves are ALWAYS getting in the way!! Screw Zombies look out for leaves!

I wonder how the 13-11 will stack up to the BWM


MM

If there is anything I can grow here, it is those infernal sawtooth palmettos. I am hopeful that the new MOAD is not too heavy. I have machetes about that size, but they are of thin stock. I guess we will know more when we get the specs. I would prefer 3/16" stock, like the BWM.

.25" or above would be crazy! But judging by the photo, it looks thin. I hope its 3/16"

Oh, and a 13-11 vs BWM chop off will be mandatory...start with the leaves...


MM

Good lookin out for your neighbor Vic. Nice to know that karma doesn't always have to be a .... well you know. Thanks for sharing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

good neighbors are hard to beat. good thing for them you were on the back porch watching.

Good neighbor, yea yea
Karma and all that, right got it
Saved the house, yada, yada, yada

But the big question is: How was the beer?

Lucky you were there for your friends Vic!

Nice work, that's a good thing to hear. Thanks for sharing too. I love the sentiment: the only way to make things work is to look out for each other and you just gave a perfect example.

Claudiasboris

Excellent story and lesson for all to heed Vic. Sounds like everyone is getting their priorities straight out your way. Its good being in a small, tight knit community. Nothing better. I've been both the helper and helpee in similar situations many times over. People are beginning to wake up to the fact that when the SHTF you need good neighbors who you can count on and who can count on you. It will be a rude awakening for those who naively think they can do it all on their own. You never know when you'll need the help of someone with a big knife. Best to get in their good graces well before that time comes.

YEAH LOL

The beer was good, but I would never make light of the importance of community building and looking out for one another. You can't do it all yourself.

Always good to have neighbors you can depend on in a pinch. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I am kind of disappointing that you did not use the chopper to cut an access door in to the shed wall, an air hole if the roof, and generally put out the fire with the blade--you had to use buckets of water?

Just kiddin and congrats for doing a good thing.

May offer to help when it is time to slaughter the chickens--something tells me you have just the right tool!

A good deed! Which knife did you use to cut the greenery? I am thinking of the Boy Scout motto as I pen this. The lesson here is to be ready & willing to assist in the time of need. We can't do it all by ourselves. Cooperation and willingness to help a neighbor is probably more 'Christian' than you know. A multi-corded strand is not easily broken.

Good work HD!