Wind

Over the years we have lost several items to wind. When we put the stuff outside to dry off, or it was just outside to begin with, the wind was not blowing, but then the wind picks up and off goes our stuff, never to be found again. We have lost tarps, seat covers, blankets, even a drill. (Tom says that it was the wind but I have my doubts on that one, especially since it seemed to turn up missing after he took it on a fixing project to someone else's house. I suppose it was windy over there too, buuuut...) One of the most painful was right after we were married and we had about $5 between us and poverty. We managed to scrape up enough cash by looting the dryer and digging in the cushions of our second hand couch to buy a very small 2 man tent. We took it camping and then set it up in the back yard to dry before packing it away. We got up in the morning after a small windstorm and the tent was gone. We looked all over for it, but couldn't find it anywhere. That was a very sad day. Our most recent wind casulty: Isaac's chair mat. Isaac is a super messy eater. We have a mat under his chair to help contain spills. It is really convenient to put the mat in the bathtub and wash it down once a week rather than mop the floor after every meal. The home teachers were coming over and we were doing mad cleaning frenzy. Only 10 more minutes until they were to show up and I looked over and saw the chair mat. Oh no, it needs to be cleaned, the home teachers will think that we live in a perpetual sty. Quick put it outside. It is a little bit windy, will it be OK? Yes, we will lay it over the railing of the deck. How could the wind possibly pick it up and blow it away when it is folded up on itself? Quick only 2 more minutes until home teachers show up. Outside the mat went. 1 hour later, after home teachers left we went outside to retrieve the mat. Gone, gone, gone. I sent the kids and Tom up and down the neighborhood looking for it. How far could it go in one hour? It was filthy, I don't think anyone would steal it. No luck, gone, gone, gone. Chalk another one up to the wind. Will we ever learn?