As we approach the end of July – and regretfully already the middle of summer – two distinct but equally seasonable events come to mind. First (only because of its chronological priority not because of any eclipsing entitlement), my partner Denis’ 73rd birthday on July twenty-ninth; and, second (and by annual repeating serendipity – because it is where we intend to celebrate Denis’ birthday with Berliner donuts from the German Bakery), the thankful survival by my sister, her husband and their family of a tornado twenty years ago on August second on the Opeongo Trail, 262 Ohio Road, Combermere ON (“To enter the property do not take the entrance where the Opeongo Resort sign is, but the next right just a few meters up that says Hidden Driveway # 272. At the fork in the road go left to get to the cabin.“)

Meteorologist Geoff Coulson said an F-1 twister tore through the Opeongo Trail Resort in the community, 150 kilometres west of Ottawa. An F-1 tornado has winds of between 120 and 170 kilometres an hour.

Environment Canada officials at the scene describe the damage as “total devastation,” and say they’re amazed that despite the number of crushed camping trailers and cars, no one was hurt.

Deanne Lemieux, who was in a cottage at the resort at the time, said it felt like the cottage was going to lift off the ground before several trees fell through the roof.