As I leaned against my car watching the house burn, people started to gather.
The morning of the fire it was cold in the house. School was out because of the weather. I had dressed in layers and put a big terry robe over everything. I had on socks, but no shoes.
Virginia took in my son, keeping him warm and safe. Someone, I still don't know who, brought me a pair of shoes. Eva brought me a coat, a box of tissues and some chapstick.
A TV reporter offered her cell phone and to call the Red Cross. Susan took me directly to the insurance office and then to the bank.
I felt blessed, and grateful.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Purge by Fire
About noon, January 20, I had come downstairs to check my email and wake up my sleeping son. I heard a noise upstairs. Something crashing. My first thought was, bad dog. But there he was looking toward the noise too. Intruder?
As I started through the utility room, I saw blue smoke curling around the fluorescent lights. Damn it. What's broken now?
Halfway up the steps I saw black. Black like I've never seen. It had an energy, it seemed alive and threatening. I started up and felt the heat ... Heard the roar and bam ... Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.
I grabbed the portable phone and called 911, waked Ben, grabbed the fire extinguisher. By then (about 60 seconds later) the black cloud was moving down the steps. I shot the fire extinguisher once and realize this was futile.
Grab the costumes, find my keys, get the dog. Call Babe the cat ... Babe. I couldn't find Babe.
The firemen arrived. Get out of there...Put the dog on a lead, move the car....
The windows blew out. Find the cat...He's blind... I left. Put the dog in the car....Moved the car...Moved the car again....Find Ben.
Ben. OK. Lovely in purple surfer shorts with silver lightening bolts, a tee shirt and his sleeping bag. But safe.
Watch life as I knew it go up in smoke. Watch my list of someday projects come tumbling onto the lawn in a sooty smoking heap. Stay present. Stay in the moment. Know that this too is perfect.
As I started through the utility room, I saw blue smoke curling around the fluorescent lights. Damn it. What's broken now?
Halfway up the steps I saw black. Black like I've never seen. It had an energy, it seemed alive and threatening. I started up and felt the heat ... Heard the roar and bam ... Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.
I grabbed the portable phone and called 911, waked Ben, grabbed the fire extinguisher. By then (about 60 seconds later) the black cloud was moving down the steps. I shot the fire extinguisher once and realize this was futile.
Grab the costumes, find my keys, get the dog. Call Babe the cat ... Babe. I couldn't find Babe.
The firemen arrived. Get out of there...Put the dog on a lead, move the car....
The windows blew out. Find the cat...He's blind... I left. Put the dog in the car....Moved the car...Moved the car again....Find Ben.
Ben. OK. Lovely in purple surfer shorts with silver lightening bolts, a tee shirt and his sleeping bag. But safe.
Watch life as I knew it go up in smoke. Watch my list of someday projects come tumbling onto the lawn in a sooty smoking heap. Stay present. Stay in the moment. Know that this too is perfect.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Big Changes for us
Change begins with an ending. Change ends with a new beginning.
January 28, 2005
Dear Friends and Family,
As you may have heard, our house burned last week as a result of an electrical panel short. (WAVY chopper photo here) It was fast, destructive and shocking. My son and I were at home at the time, therefore we were able to call 911 and an amazingly short time later, the Norfolk fire department was there. They stopped the fire as it was entering the first floor, protected my books and furniture with plastic and were diligent into the night making sure that the fire did not rekindle.
Our insurance coverage is very good and the company representatives have been wonderful. We're warm and safe in a suite type motel and we'll be moving into a temporary home next week just blocks from our house. So, a little inconvenience now, but in the end, we'll be in a completely rebuilt house, redesigned just for us.
I feel so blessed to have so many people in my life who have made so many warm and generous offers to help. I will be forever grateful to them for their support when the going got tough and for their thoughts and prayers. They were heard and felt by us all.
Next week, I'll be resuming my coaching practice, my husband is back to work and normal life will resume. I'm looking forward to that!
So dear friends, check your policy...if you don't have good coverage, I can't suggest strongly enough that you upgrade to the max. I hope you'll never need to know how much peace of mind you'll receive knowing that everything's going to be just fine.
All the best,
Donna
Donna Dickerson
Life Stylist
Friday, January 07, 2005
Living on the Edge
Living on the Edge
Theater, live! It always amazes me that some folk would rather create drama off stage than on. What a waste of time and energy.
My new year's resolution....retire from being a volunteer. It's become a drain on my talent, my time and it's no longer serving me. I'm done.
It's time to stop playing with people who aren't any fun, don't share their toys and don't play well with others. Life's too short.
Theater, live! It always amazes me that some folk would rather create drama off stage than on. What a waste of time and energy.
My new year's resolution....retire from being a volunteer. It's become a drain on my talent, my time and it's no longer serving me. I'm done.
It's time to stop playing with people who aren't any fun, don't share their toys and don't play well with others. Life's too short.
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