Nope, it wasn't fireworks.

We had several friends come visit us during the 4th to celebrate together and watch our city's ever improving fireworks. They were amazed at my Calamondins on how it was loaded with flowers and fruits at different stages. While giving a guided tour to the rest of them in my tiny yard, a calamondin addict took out a ladder and began harvesting the calamondin fruits without my knowledge. We heard a loud crash and rushed to the front, and there he was holding up calamondin fruits in his hand, and a split-up calamondin tree and a mangled ladder.

He told me that he held on to the branch after the ladder knocked off (he placed it over unstable bricks), and then when the calamondin branch broke off, he fell into the ladder, mangling it up. I asked if he was alright, which turned out to be the case, fortunately, and so about a third of my calamondin canopy got an unschedued massive pruning. I told him not to worry about it as I can always graft and regraft, but the joke for that evening was that I was worried more about the calamondin tree than my friend!

The Calamondin tree is 22 ft high, columnar form, and one of the major branches broke off. In a way, I kind of liked what happened as it made the tree even better looking after trimming off the broken branches. It also allowed more sunshine into my other lower grafts which would make them grow faster for balance.

Sometimes what seems like a disaster can be taken as positive.

Joe:
I have a strategy that always work with my friends and relatives.
First off as soon as they step inside and first look at the back window overlooking the yard and the first one who uttered to admire my plants'fruits I forewarned them that all the fruits outside are OFF LIMITS. Usually they complied to my WISHES. But I know from the look in their eyes the longing to taste those wonderful fruits. As a reward I usually gave them before they leave some of the fruits of my labor.
Also you can tell them the myth that pregnant females can not remove the fruits from the tree for fear of killing it. Or maybe not even pregnant if they will buy those.

Just my opinion, but, I think your guest was very rude to use a ladder & pick your fruit without asking!! I hope he was embarrassed. He should replace your ladder too.
I had a yard party 5 weeks ago, & I said if anyone is to bring small children to please WATCH them. They like to walk on unstable stone around pond & reach in to catch fish & could fall in.. I also mentioned VICIOUS thorns on some plants. Thank God I had no ripe fruits or they might've been gone (from the kids esp). Yes, one neighbor brought 2 small children & they were on the stone - almost fell in, trying to catch fish, & my fountain pump (another one I made out of copper) was disconected by them. They were only here for 15-20 minutes & Mom never watched them even though friends told her what kids were doing.

How sad that someone would do that, I would be VERY upset! Glad you were able to remain calm and the results not a disaster!

Yes indeed that I can agree that those actions can taken as rude. But I take it now as a flattery because they couldn't resist and somehow pride myself of those irresistible plants. Especially people from our culture and they are our friends, those spontaneous actions are quite acceptable and sometimes expected, and if they could not resist, it is interpreted as deeper meaning for appreciating our plants. So if you come and visit, we could really be that nice.

What really worried me the greatest was that I could be sued against my home owner's insurance and was really glad the guest wasn't really hurt.

Homeowners--- bah humbug! Around here, if a burglar hurts himself --let's say he breaks a big window to get in & cuts himself up GETTING in, he can sue my homeowners. But yet, I'll have to pay the deductible for the broken window. Go figure!
I once helped someone decorate their house for a surprise Bday party & slipped & fell while standing on a weak chair (I didn't know it was weak & cracked). I sprained my ankle & dislocated my shoulder and broke a antique $400.00 lamp on the way to floor. They collected the $400.00 from my HO, but I didn't have the heart to SUE them for damages to ME which left me out of work for several days. This was my sister & brother-in-law! They kept the money, & soon after my rates went up. I switched.