We left off we me in the doorway trying to figure out why the smoke coming into my house wasn't black and why it looked like cotton candy :)
Oddly enough...I dont remember running across the street. I actually remember seeing my family run across the street...in silhouette form...like some kind of movie? I wasn't running with them but kind of standing off to the side watching everyone scamper. Isn't that odd?
So, now we are across the street...I actually think I was in that group, because I had a handle on a dog...That is I had my hands wrapped around Coopers collar and was half walking him on his back legs, half following him as he dragged me. He was as confused and panicky as the rest of us.
We get across the street as two squad cars come flying and I do mean FLYING down our street. They fly past us and momentarily I think, really, how could you miss it...and they spin around in the intersection. I yell to C2, Hold Him, and hand cooper off and start running towards the officers yelling, 'we are out, we are out'. I point to the house next to us, screaming, there is a family in there, get them out....the other house next to us is vacant!. I couldn't bear the thought of someone getting hurt trying to make sure we are out, or breaking into my neighbors house that is empty.
**I find out a week or two later... My neighbor at the corner BG works for the Fire Dept. And oddly enough, their house had burned two years ago. I wonder if its our street. So...He was not on duty that night but hears his radio go off for our street. They both jump out of bed and CG opens the shutters on the window and looks out..she says, it was like looking at the sun. The entire bedroom lite up. She turned to her hubby and started yelling that it was the M's house... BG calls in the correct address. The boys were off by one number, but according to the Police, you could see it from half a mile away. BG yells at CG to see if we are coming out of the house. Can you just imagine the panic that he must have felt? Its his job to save people. He's getting dressed, his neighbors house is on fire, its the middle of the night, HE KNOWS US. its not a strangers house he's going to. Its not a routine fire...I went to college with his kids! They have know our children and held them as newborns! This is personal! As CG opens the door to look for us, her cell phone goes off. Her daughter S, and I lived across from eachother in the dorm at college! Her hubby is a police officer in a different town, but heard the call. He calls S, she txts Mom. CG says, its my house...but at that moment sees us running across the street. Tells S that we are safe, tells BG that we are safe, BG radios fire company, family appears to be out. I dont even remember seeing her outside or him running over!
Me and kids are standing in front of neighbors house. I grab each kid...look at them...actually, can you believe I dont remember that either. I know I grabbed C2 by the face and looked in her eyes...I'm sure I said something...but i have no idea what. I wish I could remember, I wish I KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt that I said something wonderful and motherly and inspirational to each child...but I just cannot remember.
I dont remember the fire trucks pulling up. Isn't that odd? I just realized that now. I didn't see them pull up. there were 12 of them for God's Sake! How could I miss them. They were staged down to the power lines, and around the corner! There was a ambulance in my neighbors driveway across from my house and the big hook and ladder was directly in front of my house, trying to raise up the ladder. (trees were to big, so they couldn't use it) Every fire truck my town has plus two from surrounding areas were there...and I dont even remember them pulling up! I wonder what I was doing...
Oh wait...I took a couple of pictures. OF COURSE I DID! We were safe, we were out, we were standing there....what else would I do! I just hope I comforted my children before I took pictures! I wish I had taken pictures of the fire trucks!
I remember asking my neighbors for a glass of water. I remember that as clear as day. I felt like I had been walking through a desert for a year. I was so parched! Bless their hearts. They gave me water and gave my boys shirts. Someone gave my husband a sheet. Personally, I think it was a dream come true. Who doesn't dream about prancing around in front of their house in the middle of the night in a t-shirt and underwear! :)
I specifically remember pulling my hands through my hair, standing in LE driveway, away from the kids, standing there either saying outloud or in my head, this is a dream, this cannot happen to us, this is not real...why is this happening..how could this happen...please let me wake up......
At one point, I grabbed C2 and the dogs and started walking them towards JKF's house...but only made it to the corner of my block before I felt that I just could not leave....I dont know when that was...but I remember doing it.
I do remember that the kids who saved our lives....standing there with my kids, holding my dogs. I hope they were comforting to my children...I pray they were kind and caring...They were there forever helping C2 hold the dogs. Bless them!
I remember constantly looking at LE's front door. She is my darling neighbor across the street. She is 90. We keep an eye on each other. I keep looking for her lights to come on. I want to be able to run to her, to tell her we are ok. To re assure her that we are fine. Please dont be scared, we are ok. Eventually, she does come to the door. Neighbor behind her calls because she sees the lights. Her son is a fireman at my house right now. She wants to make sure that LE is ok, that they trucks are not there for her. I see LE at the door, I run to her and tell her we are ok...I reassure her, tell her to go sit down, to be careful not to trip and fall. I re assure her, trying to reassure myself at the same time.
Part III next...the phone calls.
I have realized that this is mentally and emotionally exhausting...I'm going to go game for a bit. :0
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