March chitchat

[stillstANNding]

Virginia, how awful about the fire. I’m glad that your brother wasn’t more seriously hurt.

Thank you, Agate.

ANN

[Virginia]

They say it was instant. When he dropped the rag he was using in the solvent it had a little alcohol on it and the bucket he had the solvent in caught fire. While getting it into the bathroom a little dropped on the carpet and it just flamed up. My middle brother said that when Eric went out of the bathroom the flames were waste high. The dogs stay up there with him a lot, but by Grace his son was home and they were downstairs with him. So, I am trying to remember that some things did happen that kept it from being the disaster it could have been. I hope they do not have a problem with their adjuster and I hope they can get someone to rebuild it as quickly as possible. It is so hard to get anyone for anything like that around here. Since it is almost a new home, it is my thought they will not just want anyone.

[agate]

I don't think I'll ever forget the movie the Fire Department showed. It showed a typical living room with a sofa, chairs, etc., and something caused fire to start, and the sofa and everything else was up in flames in an instant. It was horrifying. I had had no idea that a bad fire could get bad so fast. I guess I always thought that those smoke detectors that were being so highly promoted a while back would just let people know when a little smoke happened somewhere, and you'd have a few minutes at least to get out while the fire got itself started and smoldered for a while before bursting into a real blaze.

Smoke detectors wouldn't have done Eric any good at all, I suspect.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

ANN ~

It is so good to see you here again! But, I am so sorry that your mom had a volvulus. Jon had a volvulus in his sigmoid colon, which is why he ended up with a colostomy. His was gangrenous. That's a big surgery for anyone, but at 96, your mom sounds like she is doing quite well.

The home care set up sounds terrific! Will you be staying with her for awhile, when she comes home? Many prayers for a full and rapid recovery.

I am sure that you and Peter miss each other. How blessed you are to have each other and to be able to care for your mothers.

Virginia ~

What a terrifying and traumatic event for Eric and his wife! I can imagine it by magnifying my house reconstruction by a thousand. Just awful. I do hope that his homeowner's insurance will cover the damage, and that it won't take forever for the repairs to be started and finished. There will be smoke damage throughout the house, which will require repairing/repainting. Furniture may need to cleaned professionally. Things beyond the obvious damage become part of the reconstruction.

Was Eric working on his golf clubs upstairs in the house? I would imagine it would be better for him to do it outside, so he doesn't inhale the solvent. John is a golfer, so I am going to caution him about Eric's experience.

Burns can become infected easily, so Eric needs to rest for awhile. I'm sure that he is worried about his business and electronics, so his stress level is probably about to reach TILT. One thing at a time. That's all he can do now.

Many prayers for Eric and his family. And you, as I know you are worried about him/them, just as they were worried about you, when you were in the hospital.

Congratulations on your outing! And neighbor visits and exchanges. Your exercises are paying off! Good for you!

Thinking of and praying for all ~ be safe, well, strong, and remember to take good care of yourselves.

Pray for Peace!

☮️☮️☮️☮️

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Virginia]

That is what I thought too Agate, that you would have time (maybe not much) at least a few minutes to get out. No, from what I understand an alarm would not have done him any good. It is my understanding they are still trying to figure out what to do. Of course, a lot of this has to do with the two dogs who are also family. They are thinking a minimum of 9 months. Eric has been my rock through my recent problems. He had planned to take me to an appointment tomorrow. He will not be able to do these things now. I guess he will, in addition to the house, be trying to rebuild his business since his backup is not salvagable. Also, he kept a lot of his son's business information on his computer. All of this has to do with taxes, which I hate to think of the complications there.

[agate]

This is just a shame--and I believe that Eric is the brother who has been so helpful all along? This is bad news for you as well.

[Virginia]

I didn't talk to anyone in the family today. I just hate that I don't feel I can call him at this time. I would think he would be on his phone a lot trying to take care of all that he can. If I haven't heard from him by Wednesday I might call his daughter to see if they are still staying there and try to find out what is going on. I want to know if the adjuster has been out, but I also want to know Eric's state of mind and how his hands are. Saturday he was blaming himself. Even the firefighters were telling him it was an accident and an accident can happen to anyone.

Rose, yes he was working inside. It was cold that day, so he was not in the garage. Going home from the hospital he was trying to tell me his hands would be alright. My middle brother was talking over him so bad I wanted to tell him to hush and let me talk to Eric, but I didn't. They did an endoscopy on him while he was awake and he was trying to tell me his breathing was alright also.

I went to the appointment we had planned to go to together today. I can not begin to tell y'all all that he has done for me. If I need or want to go someplace he takes me and lets me out at the door so I will not have to walk from a handicap space. If I want him inside with me he parks after he lets me out and then goes back and gets the car. I miss my pal. My other brother is not like that. He gets impatient with me.

After my appointment I stopped at Bed Bath & Beyond and picked up a few things for the upstairs bath that was just painted and a few things for the kitchen that I am working on. Today and Friday the weather was good. It felt a little cool Friday because the wind was blowing. Today it was close to perfect and this included the dupoint and pressure, so that is the reason I did well with my walking. For me that makes the biggest difference.

Rose, thank you for your prayers. I'll tell him I have talked about him so much on here that all of you know him. Also, I think he posted to y'all while I was sick.

[agate]

It sounds as if Eric was severely impacted by the fire if his hands and his breathing were affected. I hope the doctors and hospital staff can help him to recover comfortably and soon. Yes, it was Eric who very kindly posted here to update us about your situation, and that was so thoughtful of him.

You were in my thoughts yesterday when a mirror I had ordered arrived, with a label on it (in English and French) saying not to leave it unattended and exposed to direct sunlight as reflected sunlight "may cause fire." Very flammable substances are being used in everyday things.

When I was a kid I had a lamp attached to the headboard of my bed, and one day I had a pillow upended so I could sit in bed and play a card game with a couple of people. Suddenly the pillow went up in flames. It had caught fire by being too close to the lightbulb. Fires can happen. Luckily that one just ruined a pillow and nobody was hurt but it could have been far worse.

[agate]

Jeanie Z's birthday is March 22 for those who would like to send her a card. If anyone needs her address, please just send me a PM.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

Have you spoken to Eric or his wife yet? I am so sorry for all that they are going through now. It must be so stressful. Your family has had several crises and tragedies in the past couple of years. You are all in my prayers, and I send healing energy to you.

Yes, Eric did post when you were ill to keep us updated. He and your family were worried about you.

agate ~

Thank you for the reminder of Jeanie's birthday.

Pray for Peace!

☮️☮️☮️☮️

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Virginia]

Agate, thanks for reminding me about Jeanie's birthday. I knew it but with all that has been going on had forgot. I had been planning to call her in the next few days but was putting it off a little until things in the family settle down.

Eric called this afternoon. He had to hang up and call me back twice because he was getting calls he had to take. Finally, on the third call when he got a call he just said he would talk to me later, so he is busy.

The house sounds really bad. At least a third of it will have to be taken down to the studs. The upstairs has not been entered because they told him no one should go in until the inspector comes. Eric is going to meet him tomorrow morning and walk him through exactly how it happened..He says his hands are alright, or will be. They gave him some prescription salve to put on them and he says it is great. I hope he is telling me the truth. He doesn't like to worry me.

He lost three computers and unless he can find someone who can retrieve information from a burned hard drive, he will have lost all info pertaining to his business, information pertaining to his youngest son's golfing business, tax documents and everything for them and the son. There was lots of paperwork that he lost. Bedroom suite is gone upstairs and all office furniture.

They have 3 bedrooms downstairs. Insurance people have been out and said they would have furniture taken to a restoration place, what can be restored will be and the rest will have to be replaced. They will have to replace all hardwood floors, bedrooms had carpet. They told my SIL they would replace all carpet upstairs and one bedroom downstairs. They said they would clean other two downstairs. She told them no. She told them she didn't want carpet that was not the same color in her house and she wanted it with the same wear and tear. They agreed to it. Pictures have to be taken off the walls and restored if possible. Clothes will have to be cleaned.

My SIL has already packed 75 boxes and rented a storage bin. They offered to do the packing but she wants to pack personal items herself. She found a place for them to rent that has 3 bedrooms and a fenced in back yard for their dogs. It is fully furnished and the utilities will be paid with the rent. It is $4,000.00 per month. Insurance has said they will pay this. She will have a distance to drive, but they feel lucky to get this.

Eric went in downstairs yesterday with a N95 mask on. He couldn't stay but awhile due to smoke fumes. He has all his life been bothered by smoke. He had to get out. They have told him it would be 9 months to a year - if all goes well, before they can get back in.

I am thankful he is alive and the dogs and his son were not upstairs with him.

[agate]

What a catastrophic fire that was, Virginia! But as you say, if nobody was badly hurt and the pets are OK, that is what matters. Things can always be replaced, at least in some way or other, and I understand that it's even possible to restore data on fire-damaged hard drives though not easy.

I'm glad they've found a place to rent. That must be a huge relief but of course the long wait and the many details that have to be tended to will be tedious.

[Lazarus]

Virginia, Well, things seem to be better than they could have been so that is a good thing. But, what a mess to straighten everything out with info on the computers. I hope someone is able to retrieve your brother’s information.
take care everyone.

[Virginia]

Thanks Agate and Linda.

I am trying to carry on with all my stuff without Eric. I always knew I could call on him, but now I can't. Do not want to add to his burdens.

[SuzE-Q]

Virginia, what an awful situation. Given that the fire dripped on the carpet as he walked past, it is truly remarkable he wasn't trapped by the flames and wasn't hurt any more.

Hopefully he can salvage the computer data.

I know you miss him, can you text him just to keep in touch? It's often an easier way just to maintain contact and for fast updates. Sounds like they are well on their way to having plans in place and preparations are already moving fast. So grateful his injuries weren't worse and everyone (and dogs) were safe. Sounds like you are reconnecting with your neighborhood! I can see progress in my fitness level, thank you again for sharing your exercises!

Good to see ANN! Your mom is a beautiful, strong woman. Strength and healing thoughts for her.

Linda, I'm so sorry you're losing such a progressive and proactive neurologist. I am not thrilled with mine and it is really important to have a good bond. I feel I am missing out on better care for sure.