Prologue
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My home was a place I felt comfortable in a place that I felt safe. So when my house burnt down January 26, 2007, I felt like I had no place to feel safe. My Twitterive is about my house fire, and all the details that come with it. At first I thought my place was home but when I had finished I figured out that my place is family. My theme is home and me figuring out that home is not a specific place, it is where you feel comfortable. My Repretend is my tweets throughout my Twitterive. This time in my life was blurry I do my best to try and remember everything that happened. This story is not meant to be sad.
My home was a place I felt comfortable in a place that I felt safe. So when my house burnt down January 26, 2007, I felt like I had no place to feel safe. My Twitterive is about my house fire, and all the details that come with it. At first I thought my place was home but when I had finished I figured out that my place is family. My theme is home and me figuring out that home is not a specific place, it is where you feel comfortable. My Repretend is my tweets throughout my Twitterive. This time in my life was blurry I do my best to try and remember everything that happened. This story is not meant to be sad.
“Sarah, I forgot my keys in the house,” as I walked to the car. “Hold this stuff.”
“Hurry up we are going to be late.”
“The house is locked.” I screamed from the front door.
“Mom is going to be mad when you wake her up.”
“Whatever, we need to get in.” As I push the door bell franticly.
Mom’s eyes were tired as she opened the door and said, “WHAT?”
“I forgot my keys, Thanks Mom, bye.” As I ran by her.
“This is going to be a crazy day I can tell already.” Sarah said.
I said smiling, “its Friday nothing can make this day bad.”
I had to drive to school slow the roads were frozen. It was the coldest day of the year and I was driving a mustang on a sheet of ice to school. I could not wait till twelve fifteen; I was a senior and got early work release. I really didn’t want to go babysit, but I was leavening early to go out to dinner. Usually I went home before I went to work, but on this day I went the back way, and never went past my house.I played with the kids till it was time to go.
“Tracy, I’m going to leave now.” I said to the kid’s mom.
“No you have to wait Tom’s on his way home with your money.”
“Ok, but I can wait till Monday.”
“I want you to wait so he can give it to you today.”
“Ok. Tracy.”
My boss’s husband was taking forever to get home. I was sitting on the couch by the window waiting for him, when I saw my dad’s truck pull up. Why would he be here, I have my own car to drive home I don’t need him. As he walked up the sidewalk and I looked at his face I knew something was wrong and immediately started crying. I knew that face he usually had it when he was going to tell me when a family member died or one of my animals. But he wouldn’t be here to tell me a family member died unless it was my mom or sister.
“Laura, our house is on fire, I brought Donald to drive my truck home so that I can drive you in your car.”
“Is everyone ok, what about the animals?”
“Mom and Sarah are ok, but I don’t think any of the animals made it. I’m sorry.” He said with tears rolling down his face.
That was the longest ride I have ever had home from my bosses house. Ten minutes felt like two hours. When we got closer to my house the street was blocked a half a mile before. My dad pulled up to the cop directing traffic.
"Can I please go through that’s my house? The truck behind me is with us also.” My dad said to the cop.
“Go head.” The cop waved us on.
“There is not a word to describe the way you feel when you see your house engulfed in flames, and there is nothing you can do about it. Our neighbor had my whole family in her house, while we were trying to figure out what to do next. We watched and waited as the firefighters tried to put out the fire. We saw them slipping and sliding on the driveway because it was a sheet of ice.
“Laura, are you hungry? Eat something.” My Mom-mom said as she walked to the pizza box.
“I can’t eat I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
I’m glad my Mom-mom and aunts and uncles showed up to help up. It made it easier on my mom and dad so they could take care of calling the insurance company. The rest of the family stuck by me and my sister, while we cried. I remember them not really saying much just that it was going to be alright.
We waited till the firefighters were all done; they investigated and said the fire was not caused by us. They also said that the water they had at the fire stations were frozen so they had to truck it in from somewhere else. That’s why they could not get the fire under control till late that night.
I JUST WANT MY HOUSE BACK!
Our family has our own theories about the fire. But the investigators said an ember came out of the chimney and fell into the trashcan and started the fire. But we think they made that up because they wanted to go home and the already ruled it and accident. The rumors around town that we had heard were my mom threw a candle at my dad and started the fire. Another one was that my mom threw aches into the trashcan from the fireplace. All of them had to deal with my mom starting the fire, which were all wrong. What we think happen was either a dewalt battery charger caught on fire. Or we had an old freezer chest in the garage that we think might have been bad. Really no one knows what really happened.
Best Western
We had to find a place to stay the night my house burned down. It was hard to just leave our house that was fine when we left in the morning. We went to walmart and got basic nessiites. The walk in to the hotel felt strange. Like a really bad dream that I could not wake up from. We carried bags into the hotel like they were our suitcases.
Going to sleep was impossible that night. In fact there was no sleeping at all. All I could do was cry. I really never thought a house fire could happen to me. I guess no one really thinks it could happen to them. I missed everything I had lost. When I think back to it now, I don’t really care about all the things that I had lost. Things can be replaced. The only thing I really lost that day was my animals. Animals can’t be replaced,
“Is anyone asleep?” Mom said.
“No.”
“Let’s get up and go to Walmart.”Dad said.
“At four AM?”
“Yes, what else can we do lay here staring at the walls.”
For a month my whole family felt like zombies walking around with no place to belong. No home.
Our Temporary Home
This was just temporary. They sat this trailer on our front yard until our
house was completely built. We stayed in this trailer from January to September, eight long months. It had three bedrooms and very small living spaces. It was a big step down from our house. This really made us closer because there was no way to get away from each other. Being a teenager in a small space with my parents it was hard and trying. It was not a happy place all the time, there was a lot of fighting. Not because we wanted to fight but because it was a stressful situation for my parents. Then it was also a stressful palace for me and my sister being two female teenagers. Stressed out parents plus stressed teenager’s equal
some rough patches. But we got through it and we made it.
house was completely built. We stayed in this trailer from January to September, eight long months. It had three bedrooms and very small living spaces. It was a big step down from our house. This really made us closer because there was no way to get away from each other. Being a teenager in a small space with my parents it was hard and trying. It was not a happy place all the time, there was a lot of fighting. Not because we wanted to fight but because it was a stressful situation for my parents. Then it was also a stressful palace for me and my sister being two female teenagers. Stressed out parents plus stressed teenager’s equal
some rough patches. But we got through it and we made it.
I JUST WANT MY HOUSE BACK!
When I needed you, you were there
When I didn't, you were there
When I cried, you were there
When I didn't know where I was going, you were there
I have realized in life that I need you
That's why I am happy you are still here
When I didn't, you were there
When I cried, you were there
When I didn't know where I was going, you were there
I have realized in life that I need you
That's why I am happy you are still here
Friends,
neighbors, and people we had never met.
1. Dropped off food every night (even enough for the people there to help us).
2. Donated blankets and clothes.
3. Donated money and cards.
4. Cards were brought for many days after the fire.
5. We were given support from everyone around us.
neighbors, and people we had never met.
1. Dropped off food every night (even enough for the people there to help us).
2. Donated blankets and clothes.
3. Donated money and cards.
4. Cards were brought for many days after the fire.
5. We were given support from everyone around us.
I JUST WANT MY HOUSE BACK!
Green for the Greens
Our family was there from the start. They orchestrated a beef and beer to help raise money. That nigt was a good night for my parents. My mom did not want this at all. When she got there though it was something to take her mind off of the house and the problems there. It was a time for all of us to have fun and talk to our friends and family.
R.I.P Destiney and her three puppies, and Daisy.
This poem was donated to us with a basket full of rottweiler memorabilia.
Destiny was in the garage the time of the fire. She was with her three puppies at the time. We found her body on top of her puppies, trying to save them from the smoke. It’s sad to think what was going through her head. She was a good mother till the end. We were very sad to lose her.
We also lost our cat Daisy; she was mistakenly locked in the house that day. She was the sweetest calico cat.
(This is Destiny when she was a puppy, we did not have any older
pictures of her)
We also lost our cat Daisy; she was mistakenly locked in the house that day. She was the sweetest calico cat.
(This is Destiny when she was a puppy, we did not have any older
pictures of her)
Star
Our cat Star was also in the garage at the time of the fire. Somehow she jumped out of a window. Star came back nine days after the fire. The smoke detector was still going off in the house after the fire. It was an uncomfortable sound to hear when we would walk outside. So my dad went in the house and took it down. That day she came back home. She still to this day does not like the sound of the smoke detector. She freaks out and try’s to get out of the house anyway possible. When she came back her fur and ears were singed. When we took her to the vet they said she would be ok. A couple months later her hair grew out; she looks like the cat we knew before the fire.
Sometimes I think of the fire. Usually I get home around one in the afternoon from school and then I go to work. But on that day it was weird I went the back way straight to work. If I would have gone home I would have opened the garage and there would have been a fire. So I probably would have tried to save all my animals and put out the fire. I always wonder if I could have saved my house. My mom always says she is thankful I didn’t go home that day because she would have lost something more important than the house, me. I think about what my dog and two cats were doing in the fire and how did Star get out. My dog destiny was a really good dog and I always think how she tried to save her puppies. She probably could have gotten out if she wanted to but she didn’t want to leave her kids.
What you need to get over a disaster
patience
laughter
crying
respect
remembrance
family
friends
hope
love
trust
The Rebuilding of our Home
I have always really been home, home is where my family is. No matter where we are!
(Please read the first part walking down stairs and the second coming up the stairs.)
Welcome Home
Never think it could happen to you what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
The worst day ever everything I need is here
It's hard to leave so warm and comfortable
Cold Family
I hate this I'm finally home
(Please read the first part walking down stairs and the second coming up the stairs.)
Welcome Home
Never think it could happen to you what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
The worst day ever everything I need is here
It's hard to leave so warm and comfortable
Cold Family
I hate this I'm finally home
Dear Old House,
I think it’s about time that I get over you. I have found a new house that I love. My new house is much bigger and better. I never really liked my old room. It had pink carpets that were not my style. I really didn’t like that it was a dormers either. I could never get new furniture or rearrange my room. My furniture had to fit in little cubby holes. In my new bedroom I have bigger and better furniture and I can rearrange my room anyway I want to. Also your closets were too small, now I have a huge closet to fit all my clothes. In the rest of the house we have a bigger kitchen and dining room. We even have a formal dining room and a formal living room. (That we never use but that is beside the point) You were a good house for the time, but now we love our new house and we forgot about you.
Sincerely,
Laura
I think it’s about time that I get over you. I have found a new house that I love. My new house is much bigger and better. I never really liked my old room. It had pink carpets that were not my style. I really didn’t like that it was a dormers either. I could never get new furniture or rearrange my room. My furniture had to fit in little cubby holes. In my new bedroom I have bigger and better furniture and I can rearrange my room anyway I want to. Also your closets were too small, now I have a huge closet to fit all my clothes. In the rest of the house we have a bigger kitchen and dining room. We even have a formal dining room and a formal living room. (That we never use but that is beside the point) You were a good house for the time, but now we love our new house and we forgot about you.
Sincerely,
Laura