Why was our neighbor from across the street frantically pounding on our front door at night? She was screaming for us to open it. We ran to the door, and she said only one word as she took off running: “FIRE!” Then she let us know that she had already called 911.
We ran out just as the fire engines raced onto our street with their sirens screaming. The fire was huge! Flames were shooting wildly out the windows and through the roof of the hundred-year-old, three-story house next door. The flames were so tall they were visible a few miles away. Fire engines filled our entire street, and even blocked the two cross streets.
My husband raced next door to be sure our neighbors had gotten out. All family members were outside and safe… including the dog. He ran to the houses on the other street that backed up to the house on fire and banged on those doors to be sure the neighbors were safe, too. They were. The air was thick with smoke, and it was hard to see and breathe as he came back down our street and arrived home.
Our streetwas crowded with fire trucks, eleven in all. One engine had a monster light on it that made the street bright enough that it looked like it was high noon on a sunny day. The paramedics and ambulances also came in case they were needed. Thank goodness, they were not. Our house became kind of a “safe house” with our next-door neighbors coming and going, as needed. It was a safe place for their dog, too.
After around two hours,the fire was completely contained. Amazingly, the house was not a total loss. Most of it, while smoky and damp, was salvageable. And only a few important items were lost. The rest, like furniture and clothes, could be replaced. Only two rooms and a hallway would need to be reconstructed. The rest of the house could be cleaned and aired out. The fire investigators determined that the fire had been caused by a faulty appliance in one of the bedrooms.
The next day, our house smelled of smoke. The whole neighborhood smelled of smoke. Even we smelled of smoke! But, despite the tragedy—or maybe because of it—we have found many reasons to count our blessings and feel grateful. And as we have found many times, when tragedy strikes people come together to help. Most people are good and want to do good for others. Coming to the aid of our neighbors during the fire and afterward became a blessing for us.
Our neighbors are also counting their blessings. First and foremost, no one was hurt despite theenormity of the fire and the challenges it will bring for some time to come. Everyone is okay. Their gratitude for the firefighters is overwhelming. They have expressed their gratitude to us many times for opening our house to them that night and over the days that followed. It was a small thing for us, but tremendous for them.
They had no electricity. How can you keep your phonecharged so you can keep in touch with family members to assure them you’re okay? They charged their phones here. Where can your dog stay for a while and be safe? Right here at our house with our dog. What do you do with medications that need to be refrigerated? Put them in our refrigerator. Where can you meet with insurance investigators or others to sort things out? Right here. Or where can you lie down during the day when you need a break from sorting through the debris? Here... They were small things but important.
In the days and weeks that followed, the goodness of others came through, too. A neighbor from a few streets over brought a basket full of home-picked fruit from the trees in their yard—oranges, lemons, peaches, and avocados. Others in the area brought all kinds of things to share—some needed, some not. And our neighbors were and are so very grateful.
Things havesettled down now. And then we will celebrate! They have such a positive attitude that all will be fine—and it will be. Good things can come out of bad things.
1. The air was thick with smoke, and it was hard to see and breathe as he came back down our street and arrived home. 空气中弥漫着浓重的烟雾，当他沿着我们的街道回到家时，他很难看到和呼吸。
2. After around two hours,the fire was completely contained.大约两个小时后，火势被完全控制住了。
3. despite the tragedy—or maybe because of it—we have found many reasons to count our blessings and feel grateful. 尽管发生了悲剧——或者正因为如此——我们还是找到了很多理由来感恩我们的幸福。
4. It was a small thing for us, but tremendous for them. 这对我们来说是件小事，但对他们来说是件大事。
5. Good things can come out of bad things. 坏事也会带来好事。
