Friday night we decided to to out to a new barbecue place that opened. Line was too long so we had pizza at Blaze a new place as well next door. I had a coke with my dinner (making three for the day which is highly unusual) and therefore kept me up wayyy later than usual. I didn't get to bed until 1 am. Not usually a problem since I need about six hours of sleep minmum to function at work.
Now, there is a bar up the road and sometimes we hear a rowdy crowd or a fight break out coming down our sidewalk so around 3 I hear loud voices. 'Omy GOD' and other things breaking through my light sleep. Tried to ignore them, then more voices.. it was sounding rather intense when sirens started coming. Oh boy, they had to call the cops and an ambulance?
Then I hear Devon in the hallway (he spent the night), oddly Katie woke up but no one bothered to knock on my door. The fire trucks stopped in front of our apartments so of course I get up and go to the front of the apartment, Katie and Devon are out looking down the walkway.
The end apartments four doors down were completely engulfed in flames. OH MY GOD! It is a separate building thankfully, but we just stood there gawking, semi panic mode.The rest of the residents are downstairs milling around, cops are there, the firemen by that time are getting it under control.
Other than 'holy crap what if we have to evacuate' is, 'I forgot to check the mail and my W2 is in there.'. Yeah priorities right? The mail boxes are on the wall where the downstairs apartment was. By the way, even in winter in San Diego it gets cold, it was about 50 degrees outside and for us that's COLD! I was shivering. I went back in and put pants on, grabbed my jacket and a blanket, slipped on some shoes and then went outside again. I tried to get a picture on my phone but my hands were shaking too much.
By this time a second truck had arrived and the cops down stairs yelled up to have us get out of our apartment. Devon looked at the fire, I went inside to grab stuff and then he says, 'They have it completely contained, she's just trying to get people safe.' I double checked after standing there with my laptop, backpack full of clothes and had gotten my wallet and phone.
Another pause standing outside.... okay he was right, the fire was almost completely out. Devon had gone downstairs and had come back up and went in my room. I followed him and he came out with a spare leash for Rex.
"I know the guy in the upstairs apartment has a dog but he has no leash."
God bless his heart. I love my son.
The guys that lived in the upstairs apartment that had been involved had a pit bull dog that was very excited and friendly. Devon was there, trying to get the leash around the dogs neck who kept trying to lick him and lunge to see people. The dogs name is Buddha and Devon was so fantastic about helping them.
We all milled around for a while, the complex has a resident manager thankfully and he even looked up and waved at me as I was heading back inside. Everything was under control by around 4 so we decided to get back inside. The front door had been open a lot and now the apartment was way cold.
Devon, Katie and I all got on our respective computers and posted our status on facebook then went to bed. I didn't get to sleep until around 5. After the adrenaline rush, not sleeping well, then not enough sleep... still feeling the after effects. It could have been worse definitely but luckily we have a fire station really close.
We still don't know what started it, but the random gossip was the downstairs people were a woman, her boyfriend and her kid. The woman apparently was very drunk and it's possible she was smoking inside.
We are thankful that we didn't have to evacuate. When I gathered up what I could, I looked around and had to think what I needed immediately. I have a LOT of crap and random stuff. Yarn, beads, clothing, books... what was important right then was a change of clothing, a blanket, jacket, phone, ipod, laptop and associated cords. Everything else was not crucial. Even my computer on the desk, I had my laptop.
My son of course, living out of his backpack for the past few years was ready in two minutes. Even Katie forgot about Thorin her cat until the last minute.
It was scary but we are very lucky.
The following day when Katie picked me up she said she had helped one of 'our neighbors' not sure which ones, shuttle stuff that was salvageable to the hotel where they were staying.
Those who have, share and do what we can. Devon wasn't home when I got home so he must have been spending time with friends.
Nothing like a near disaster to put your life in perspective.
Oh another thing is Devon is now on an actual paycheck with the company he's been working for the past year or so. He texted me, 'They took almost a quarter of my paycheck out for taxes!' I told him that happens, and I get almost a third of my check taken out between taxes and benefits. I also told him to check his witholding status to make sure he is doing the right ones.
Other than that, we're still plugging along, dragging in my case, but we still have a place to live and food and clothes.
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