Poor Neighbours!
I'm sitting in my office working on tax stuff and the sirens are getting closer. The last time we heard them that close was when the neighbour on our west side got fire-bombed for the second time in a year. He moved out after the insurance fixed up his house last summer. Now the house on the other side is on fire! No fire bombs though. They're a pair of octogenarians living there - our pseudo mom 'n pop... friends and neighbours for more than 25 years. The ambulance just carted him away to a hospital with breathing problems and no wonder! The smoke has been billowing out of their front and back windows for awhile now. He and his wife both went to their other neighbours across the street (also in their 80's) for help. She is so considerate, she probably didn't want to bother me in my 'busy time'. I must try to remember not to tease her about not calling here first.
Another ambulance waits out of sight - presumeably in case one of the other seniors gets too upset. The elderly fella from that house across the street only got home from hospital a week ago after a nasty bout with pneumonia. He probably shouldn't be 'entertaining' for too long. And his wife is also not strong. Their adult daughter has been staying with them for a few weeks to help out, but she has a home and a (nursing) career to get back to.
The firemen hauled out a couple of her beautiful antique Queen Ann chairs - totally ablaze. She and her hubby would sit in those chairs by their living room window every morning and read their newspaper. Anytime I go by, I always wave because that is where they will usually be - whether or not I can see them through the window's reflection. Or in their back garden, when the snow is flying. It's not flying today but it's a foot thick on the ground. No snow on their roof now, thanks to the fire. The front door probably got hatchetted open and we noticed all the screens and windows are either on the ground outside or opened wide. Half the neighbourhood has congregated on the street in front of the burning home. The other half are watching the news on TV as the camera people and reporters just left with their 'breaking news'.
But it's our hearts that are breaking as we wonder if this is their time to live in a smaller "senior's apartment" or worse... a nursing home. They are still together at least, well, when he gets out of the hospital. Neither of them was burned and I don't believe they suffered from the smoke inhalation either, but they were both really upset at the damage and the 'excitement'. It's Sunday so Mrs. would be cooking something 'special' for dinner and probably expecting one of their local children or grandchildren for supper. I suspect that's where the fire started - in the kitchen. Both of them probably laid down for naps and something burned. That home is where they raised their family while he was a principal at the high school and she was a teacher. They both still have active minds most of the time, even with the hearing loss.
I suppose I should be worried about that special envelope they keep for me every February and March with all the receipts they need for their income tax return. And they have a LOT of slips to lose also. I hope I can figure out what numbers to scribble down for them without those pieces of paper but it's going to be a challenge. I fear they won't come 'home' again. I fear the insurance may or may not cover the damage and the house can be fixed up again, but not our super neighbours. That would mean we get new folks all around us now since we're on a corner lot. That would also make US the "Seniors". Yuck. I called the local daughter of the folks from the burning home and got no answer, so I presume she must be en route or already around here someplace, with the other onlookers.
Ironically, I spent an hour this morning going through all the pictures of Christchurch in New Zealand and Queensland, Australia and wishing those good people God speed in their arduous journey ahead. Little did I know that our own neighbours would have similar disaster strike them on the same day. You wouldn't know it by my blog, but this really is a 'nice' neighbourhood. The people tend to wave at one another and most of us know most of the others in the 'hood' by some context - their cars, kids, holiday decorations and gardens. We already miss the folks who got badly hurt in that firebombing last summer and now we could easily lose the other side's homeowners as well. The changing times. The burning home. Whatta day.
Another ambulance waits out of sight - presumeably in case one of the other seniors gets too upset. The elderly fella from that house across the street only got home from hospital a week ago after a nasty bout with pneumonia. He probably shouldn't be 'entertaining' for too long. And his wife is also not strong. Their adult daughter has been staying with them for a few weeks to help out, but she has a home and a (nursing) career to get back to.
The firemen hauled out a couple of her beautiful antique Queen Ann chairs - totally ablaze. She and her hubby would sit in those chairs by their living room window every morning and read their newspaper. Anytime I go by, I always wave because that is where they will usually be - whether or not I can see them through the window's reflection. Or in their back garden, when the snow is flying. It's not flying today but it's a foot thick on the ground. No snow on their roof now, thanks to the fire. The front door probably got hatchetted open and we noticed all the screens and windows are either on the ground outside or opened wide. Half the neighbourhood has congregated on the street in front of the burning home. The other half are watching the news on TV as the camera people and reporters just left with their 'breaking news'.
But it's our hearts that are breaking as we wonder if this is their time to live in a smaller "senior's apartment" or worse... a nursing home. They are still together at least, well, when he gets out of the hospital. Neither of them was burned and I don't believe they suffered from the smoke inhalation either, but they were both really upset at the damage and the 'excitement'. It's Sunday so Mrs. would be cooking something 'special' for dinner and probably expecting one of their local children or grandchildren for supper. I suspect that's where the fire started - in the kitchen. Both of them probably laid down for naps and something burned. That home is where they raised their family while he was a principal at the high school and she was a teacher. They both still have active minds most of the time, even with the hearing loss.
I suppose I should be worried about that special envelope they keep for me every February and March with all the receipts they need for their income tax return. And they have a LOT of slips to lose also. I hope I can figure out what numbers to scribble down for them without those pieces of paper but it's going to be a challenge. I fear they won't come 'home' again. I fear the insurance may or may not cover the damage and the house can be fixed up again, but not our super neighbours. That would mean we get new folks all around us now since we're on a corner lot. That would also make US the "Seniors". Yuck. I called the local daughter of the folks from the burning home and got no answer, so I presume she must be en route or already around here someplace, with the other onlookers.
Ironically, I spent an hour this morning going through all the pictures of Christchurch in New Zealand and Queensland, Australia and wishing those good people God speed in their arduous journey ahead. Little did I know that our own neighbours would have similar disaster strike them on the same day. You wouldn't know it by my blog, but this really is a 'nice' neighbourhood. The people tend to wave at one another and most of us know most of the others in the 'hood' by some context - their cars, kids, holiday decorations and gardens. We already miss the folks who got badly hurt in that firebombing last summer and now we could easily lose the other side's homeowners as well. The changing times. The burning home. Whatta day.
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Comment by catlover on February 27, 2011 at 1:24pm -
I is good to see you back blogging, but not the subject. The poor people, it is so hard for older folks to adjust to any changes. It seems they will have to even temporarily if the house is able to be repaired and if they stay there. At least no one was hurt, thank the Lord.
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Comment by bikette on February 27, 2011 at 1:50pm
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Fire trucks are still here, still blinking, still lotsa uniforms hanging around (as opposed to racing around like they were earlier). Their car is out of the garage now and appears to be unaffected. Not as many onlookers now, but it's been a couple hours and it's cold! At least outside of that house it's cold! Plus the last engine pulled up right in front of a bunch of people so they couldn't see anymore. Aww.
Thanks for commenting CL. I'd be here all day every day if my b*tchy boss would let me. I've only just sneaked in here for this blog while she was 'busy'. I swear she's even more cantankerous than she was last year! Oh well. I guess there has to be one in every office, and ... since I'm the only one here . . .
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Comment by lotsofshots on February 27, 2011 at 4:08pm -
bikette, that is really unfortunate for everyone involved. I am so glad that everyone is safe and I am so sorry that the house was damaged. Sending positive vibes your way for sure. I am sad about the chairs and the fright that everyone had to go through. I hope that everthing works out and they get back into the house and you can still have your ma and pop for neighbors. Will be thinking about all of you.
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Comment by Teena on February 27, 2011 at 6:50pm -
It is always lovely to read your blogs bikette!
It is unfortunate and I feel sad for the people who are affected by these horrible circumstances... Sometime it couldn't be helped but to think how lucky and truly blessed we are...though it is frightening to think sometimes that it can happened to anyone...sigh
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Thanks ladies. The news report indicated the fire started in 'pop's basement workshop and that he did suffer from some smoke inhalation. He sure looked 'beat up' as he was rolled away. His Mrs, a couple years older than he, appears to be standing up and is staying with her daughter in town. I'll bet he was trying to 'fix' something in the house, much as he's always done since they built that home in the early 70's. Likely an interruption took him from his task and he would have forgotten about whatever appliance he had been using. The news report said there was around $150,000 damage so it was not exactly a cigarette burn. The restoration crew was already there minutes after the fire trucks left and I presume they are fanning and pumping out the place for a day or three. I hope they didn't lose the real treasures - their many many mementoes, photographs and relics from their long lives together. Ya know they had both been talking about selling that home and moving to something smaller and more manageable for them. I guess maybe they waited a bit too long.
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Comment by Judith on February 27, 2011 at 9:17pm -
Blessings on all, my friend. I empathisize for many reasons: Dear, good-hearted neighbors after a string of bad ones. A child that died of smoke-inhalation in our own beloved home 6 years before we found it. Elders and peers dropping like flies around me for several years. Etc. Take care of yourself so that you can help them!.....Judith in Portland.....
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Comment by latvianchick on February 27, 2011 at 11:59pm -
Time to get the slow cooker out and cook them some tasty meals, for wherever they are staying! What a sad day for them, but thankfully they are still alive! I do hope they can do something with the house and your help might be appreciated too with cleaning! Get those marigolds out!
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Comment by Gerri on February 28, 2011 at 1:43am -
Watching your home go up in flames. How gut wrenching & sad to lose everything at their age. All their history & memories. Devastating. Good they have neighbors who care (you) & some local family.
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The next morning and all is quiet in the hood.... most of us sopping up wet basements from the rain and tuaw overnight. It strikes me as ironic that the homes on both sides of us have been on fire in the last few months. Either we're next or we're the jinx! Much as we would like to help out next door, it is unlikely that we will be in a position to do much. I don't know where she is staying for sure - just assuming she went with her daughter, but she can afford alternate accommodations and might go there with her hubby when he is released from the hospital.
Of course, we will offer to help if and when they contact us (likely regarding her taxes), but they are fiercely independant people and I'm sure their family will be 'there' for them. Their adult grandchildren should be a great help to them at this time and they really do owe their grandparents for all the freebies they've gotten over the years.
It was gratifying to see the restoration crew there last night, indicating the house is being repaired ASAP, but we doubt we will be seeing our 'old' neighbours around there any more.
I guess I should bury myself back in my little tax cocoon for another 62 days but it has been nice to poke my nose in here with you folks again. I've missed you!!
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Comment by Teena on February 28, 2011 at 6:27am
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We missed you too bikette...now we understand that you have to go back to your tax cocoon...err...after which Im sure you will emerge as a beautiful butterfly =) wink
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