The first week of October, 2018, in Traill County, North Dakota. Viking Township, to be more specific. Near the Junction. What I had anticipated to be a typical whirlwind trip home to catch up on business matters turned into a surreal world of heavy, wet snow with trees weeping, wondering what was so weighing them down during what was supposed to be the height of autumn. On the day after an 18 inch snowfall, the temperatures rose and the snow began to melt. Branches began their long journey of recovery, just in time to shed their leaves and prepare for winter!