So there we were, driving home from brunch on a residential street in Toronto’s downtown area. It was a dark day with gusting winds, a picturesque autumn day.

We were enjoying the sight of the leaves blowing off the big trees and swirling around on the street when something caught my eye.

A group of people were standing around one of the said big trees talking. I just happened to notice the following sequence of events.

1. My, that person looks rather startled…
2. The person is looking at the tree.
3. The whole group now looks startled.
4. The whole group is running, whilst looking back at the tree.
5. Hey, wow… something about that tree isn’t right.
6. That tree is bending awful funny.
7. Slam on the brakes.
8. That tree is falling…right toward us!
9. Holy CRAP! That tree just missed us and brushed up against the front of our car with it’s upper branches as it fell!

(The previous all happened in a period of about 2-3 seconds, It’s funny how the mind can slow moments like that down.)

Yep, this tree that must have been 5 stories high just picked that exact moment in it’s long life to nearly crush us. Seriously, if I had reacted just one second slower we at best would have had to get a new car, but at worst could have been splattered!

I wish I had the camera with us.

The first thing I thought after the tree came to rest was, “Welp…better go around” After which I parked the car for a few minutes to absorb just how close we came to being roadkill.

We returned home, had some wine and toasted to life and it’s unpredictability.

Maybe you should do the same. Sieze the moment, don’t put off living today because you might just end up snuffed out in a freak accident before tomorrow.