I’m a few weeks late on this post being on the 10 year anniversary of my childhood home house fire. I know I said this place was going to be about happiness and fun. However, I would make the argument that sometimes bad stuff makes the happies even happier? I said I might, relax. But I do believe in balance wholeheartedly. So, let’s chat!
Roughly 10 years ago i got a phone call from my sister at 2am explaining that our house was on fire and the fire trucks were coming. She thought it would be best I come and be with the family. To this day, I give my sister (you can refresh your mind on what she looks like in this article) so much credit for that evening playing out that way. It was her that happened to wake up and notice the illumination of the entire front lawn and was able to safely get the entire family (that’s 7 people!) out the door. My sister does enjoy reminding the family that she saved all their lives. Teehee
the initial reaction
The hours, days, and months that followed that initial phone call are a bit blurry. After the dust settled we did the only rational thing we could think of and that was going to the local 24 hour diner. Diners are great aren’t they? I’m getting to the happier parts but I will say the feelings of uncertainty were present.
It was then when I realized that the best way to get through this difficult time was to have faith. In the grander picture, my huge ass family was all safe. Things were okay, but healing needed to happen and faith helped with that. And throughout those months of uncertainty I gained a few of positive mindsets that I use now in adulthood!
the value of ‘things’
In my onion, burnt house pictures are not necessary. We lost half the house and the other half was completely destroyed with water damage from the firefighters (also thank you to those volunteers!). All those ‘things’ that didn’t make it out were gone. The silly notes I saved in my nightstand, my old textbooks, projects, that shirt I “had” to have; just gone.
In the heat of it all (haha heat, fire, funny), not having much made moving from place to place while the house was rebuilt a lot easier. I realized I don’t like being so attached to ‘things’. To this day it has helped me feel more clear headed. I am no longer spending that energy worrying about all my ‘stuff’.
where is ‘home’ if you don’t have a house
We no longer had that ‘home base’ for our family. Have you seen that entire shelf at Hobby Lobby that has those signs that say ‘home is where the heart is’? Because that phrase is totally accurate. When I think about my home it’s not a building but a people.
A lot has gone down in the last 10 years but I have always been able to feel a sense of home based upon who I surrounded myself with. And that was family and friends! The bulk of the last 4 or so years has been with my mate and our now 2 doggies. I could be in the middle of the woods with him and that is home.
when the house goes down people come up
Growing up I was not good at accepting gifts. This is how my dislike for birthdays started. When you NEED clothing and someone hands you 2 full bags of quality (and clean) clothing you express gratitude and take it. Because I WAS so grateful. And that was one instance, there were countless others and it was as if the moment people found out about my situation they wanted to help.
In a time that could’ve been my worst, I was working out in a gym for free because the group knew it would be a positive way to get through the craziness, and it was! I got healthy physically and I know it was such a big help. I had in my head that I asking for help was weak. In reality, I WAS weak. I needed strength and the people around me did a wonderful job at helping me with that.
Ultimately, do I want all half a reader to experience their childhood home on fire, heck no! However, there can be good that comes from hard or difficult situations and circumstances. This experience has helped me shape my authentic self. It has helped me confirm that I am strong enough to overcome even the most uncertainty. Whatever you might be going through, know that it can still have a happy ending :-).