I just received terrible news

[Gelliebeans]

My best friend in the whole world (known since we were 14) called me and told me that her house burned down today. :cry:

Long story short both of her children were at school and dog, cat and guinea pig were all saved. Seems the neighbors trash caught fire and it blew over to her house. Neighbors house and property virtually unscathed. :mad: Her house is totally devastated. She is going through a divorce and just started a new job 3 months ago. She is in northern California so I am debating on whether I will be able to make the trek up from Southern California to help her out. (health issues).

She is in shock and after a devastating day it has been for the USA I can't even imagine her shock. Since she only has the clothes on her back I imagine it is similar to the Katrina victims that escaped with their persons. I am so sad for her right now but I decided to break out all the photographs I have of her children as babies and high school pictures, weddings (their have been a lot of pictures in 26 years) that were destroyed in the fire.

Just getting this off my chest for now. Thanks for reading. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
peace.

[beam me up scottie]

1. Oh no.

I'm so sorry for your friend.
I know what that feels like.
It's terribly traumatic and will be for quite some time, I'm afraid.
I'm so glad her pets were saved.
If you can't get up there right away, don't worry too much.
She will have plenty of help getting clothes and necessities from lots of organizations. They usually get in touch with the victims the next day to see what is needed.
You're just a call away and she'll be glad to have you to sort it all out with at the end of the day.
And you'll be able to replace so many of her priceless photographs.

Oh, how dreadfully awful.
Let us know if we can do anything.

~L

[onager]

2. I'm so sorry to hear this.

I'm glad all the people and pets are okay, though.

Keep us posted.

I can't imagine how devastating this would feel.

[Book Lover]

3. Oh my

I'm glad to know that everybody is safe, but devastating is the right word... I wonder how quickly reparations from her neighbor's insurance would be forthcoming... Oh, what a day...

[NMMNG]

4. I'm so sorry to hear this

It is good that all living beings escaped alive. However losing everything else is still quite devastating. If the neighbor and/or their insurance company are the least bit unwilling to cough up replacement funds tell your friend to get a lawyer right quick.

With metta:hug:

[YankeyMCC]

5. As long at their's life

there's hope.

It probably sounds trite, especially from somehow who's been lucky enough not have lost all my material possessions like that. I can barely imagine how devastated they must feel when they think of all the things they lost.

But that perhaps trite saying I think puts it all in good context. They made it through with all that really matters, their lives. And as long as they live they can work at returning to a life they want to make and still have joy. And I'm sure when they think of what they didn't loose they feel that joy.

And there are many good people in the world who I'm sure will be willing and able to help them when they're so wounded.

It's good to hear people and animals (or is that redundant ;) ) made it through ok.

[salvorhardin]

6. So terrible

I really feel for your friend. I've had a couple of friends of my own who have been burned out of their homes. It's good that no one (human or otherwise) and she has you for (at least) virtual support.

[Gelliebeans]

7. Thanks for all the kind words

from all of you :hug:

She will be fine and so will her children because they have love of friends and family.
She is on auto-pilot now (think that it is a defense mechanism)

I can't believe how helpless I feel, I want to fix it for her and my nieces. :cry: I am saving this thread to show her when things are a bit more stable. Inspiration of the goodness in humanity is what brings godless people through. We have so little to count on except ourselves and the good people around us.

I haven't been able to reach her (her cell phone has been wonky) but I will get her today.

Thanks again everyone for letting me vent so I can be a better friend to her as she is going to need it.

:hug: to the A&A gang

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. I hope things get better for them

:cry:

[trotsky]

9. Terrible.

Lucky for her, though, to have such a good friend in you. At least no one was hurt.

[Gelliebeans]

10. Update!!!!

She has spoken to an insurance adjuster and her own insurance will be cutting her a check very soon for personal neccessities to tie her over until the claims have been settled.

As for the fire marshall, they have to determine responsibility but it all evidence is pointing to neighbor's lit cigarette that was tossed carelessly in the bushes on the neighbors side of the fence. Not the trashcan as we orignally thought.

She is shopping for clothes and shoes today for the children so they can get back to school and resume normal activity (as much as possible).


Thanks Again for all the kind thoughts.

peace.

[onager]

11. And thanks for the update.

Sometimes I wonder what happened to the people we hear about who suffer horrible tragedies.

I'm glad to hear that the good guys may win on this one, at least to some extent.