Life Reimagined

When I started writing, the title I chose seemed fitting. We were moving from the suburbs, to the city of Chicago for an adventure we never imagined having. It was a new life, filled with unique experiences, stories, and relationships. It sent us to places we never imagined going. We heard and saw things we’d never experienced. And a lot of it was exciting, stimulating, eye opening, fresh and even fun.

I continued to write under the title, as life led us in so many unexpected directions that I simply couldn’t give it up.

I am deeply rethinking this choice…

Our recent, unexpected, unplanned and unwanted experience, has left me wondering if this heading is prophetic or dooming. I find myself weary of the unexpected. I don’t need new experiences anymore. And I really, really, really don’t want to go through this one again!

We were burned out of our RV on Feb 13th.

Our neighbor’s RV caught fire, and went up in flames like a bomb. It melted the side of ours and left us homeless. The Red Cross came alongside, and sent us to a hotel, (on the beach which is my favorite place).

It was, and still is, devastating.

Bruce has flashbacks at night. Sleep is difficult. Our possessions, while safe, are in 2 places, the damaged RV, and our hotel. We’re eating in restaurants 2x’s a day. And life as we knew it is forever changed.

I’m tired of Life Unimagined…

February 13th will live in my memory as a surreal night of horror. I stood inside our RV paralyzed about what to do.

Stay? Go? Wait it out?

As plumes of smoke began to waft toward our site, Bruce (who had already gone outside) shouted for me to exit. As I did I could feel the heat of the fire all over me. He went back in for Milo, (I don’t carry that guy down sets of stairs) who protested heavily at being outdoors in our arms.

Within seconds the next door RV blew up, like a bomb.

Looking back on video that people sent to us, I can’t believe I waited as long as I did to leave our unit. Was I crazy? What was I thinking?

I’ll tell you…

I kept thinking “This isn’t real, it’s going to end, someone is going to put it out soon, we’re fine and we’ll go back to watching ‘Mr Selfridge’”

NOT!

After I crossed the pavement to the RV’s on the other side, I was immediately questioned by all the folks who came to watch.

Are you okay?

What happened?

Do you know what started it?

Did the other people get out okay?

Can I take your cat to my unit?

And on and on and on. It’s probably the biggest event to happen in the park, and the most exciting one this year. I had my phone in hand when I exited the RV, and the camp manager called me, he’d been trying to text me but I didn’t hear it. Just checking to see if we were alright. As we spoke he walked up to me from behind. Offered us anything he could by way of help. Which is kindness itself, but not a lot of help, when you think your house may catch on fire at any moment.

Our neighbor on the other side had a hose going on the back of our RV, Bruce had another one going on the side where the fire was burning. They were largely inconsequential considering the blaze. The wind was also blowing in our direction, which made things worse. And the fire itself created a wind storm that billowed our direction.

All of us, watchers and helpers, were beginning to panic about when the fire department would arrive.

The residents of the burning RV, left through flames. They didn’t have the keys to their truck, and vehicles were at risk. A couple of men pushed their truck out of the way. Bruce was able to move ours to safety.

People were offering any help they could. Bruce was barefoot and someone offered him shoes. I was wrapped in a fleece shawl, someone offered to get me another blanket. The entire camp was wearing PJ’s. I’ve never seen so many men in plaid, flannel pants and shorts!

Arms around my shoulders, offers of prayer, comfort and encouragement – all common.

Once the fire department arrived things began to change. Unfortunately the neighbor’s RV was lost, and ours needed cooling to keep from burning completely. A dedicated hose went to ours while they worked to control and put out the fire.

And a bit of relief descended on the crowd.

People were scared that the fire would spread to their homes. Rightly so! It was an enormous blast and there was no real way to stop it before the department arrived. The wind was actively at work to spread fire where it could.

We are only 4 days out from this disaster (Red Cross said we could all it that). We don’t have answers to so many questions right now. We’re waiting on insurance adjusters to give us an idea of what’s next. Certainly a different RV. We can’t trust this one electrically, or the tires on that side, and even the frame. Our roof is melted, AC units melted, siding melted and blistered. A master electrician told us at any moment one of our wires could flame out. He recommended not living in it (we slept in it the first night).

Sigh…

This morning I’m going to catch a ride with the quilt ladies I’ve met, to a sewing day. Same tomorrow. I had coffee with them the morning of the fire and enjoyed their company enormously. They rallied around us on Friday, offering any help they could. One even offered to host us the night of the fire but we really wanted our own home.

2 ladies did our laundry…

It’s amazing how social media has made it possible for our loved ones to keep apprised of this. We’ve had phone calls from all over the country, all the way from CA to VA. We’ve even received a donation or two.

For now, we live in the ‘in between’. The space between gratefulness that it wasn’t any worse, and the reality of loss, devastation, inconvenience, cost, grief, and uncertainty.

I’m taking suggestions for a new blog name…