wabbitmom12
Well-Known Member
I can't believe I'm writing this post, and I don't even know where to start.
Have you ever heard a news story with a passing comment like, "Oh, that's so sad", and then later you find out that it actually involved people you cared for deeply? That happened to me today.
I never watch the local news. Never, ever. Never. Sometimes, I hear it on the radio.
I've been sick with the flu since Saturday, and finally made my way from the bedroom to the couch today. I awoke with the local news on at noon, just in time to hear that3 people died ina fire overnight. It caught myeye as the firefighters talked about how the house was completely consumed before they arrived, and 3 family members were missing and presumed dead.
Then, right at the end of the newscast, they mentioned theremote road this ocurred on, and showed apicture of a sign at the homethat proclaimed, "The Garretts". Andinstantly, Iknew.
Michelle was a classmate of my oldest son's. At the time,our little school had 50 children, from kindergartenthru 8th grade. All of the kids, teachers,and families knew each other inside and out. The "bigkids" were the older "sisters and brothers" that the little ones never had...and the little kids gave the big kids the chance to be someone's hero.Every day, you would see an 8th grader bending down to tie a 1st grader's shoelace, or a kindergartenergrinning and pulling on the arm of a 5th grader, squealing, "Come on, push me on theswings!"
As the school secretary, I wore many hats beside answering the phones andsorting the mail. I was the teacher's assistant, the boo-boo kisser/temperature taker/vomit cleaner-upper/bloody nose fixer-upper/scraped knee bandager, etc. I loved and huggedevery kidin thatschool and took care of them like I didmy own. I was the first one to see when they forgot their lunch, had to make the dreaded trip to the principal's office, and when they signed in...with a great big grin...after going to the orthodontist to have the braces taken off of their teeth. I talked to every parent and sibling, and sometimesknew who was going to have a new baby in their house...before their kids did. I commiserated with the parents when their child got hurt, sick, or in trouble, and celebrated with them when they won awards or got their first A on a spelling test.
In a little school like that, you are a family.
Michelle was 21 years old this year. Our paths continued to crosswhen she was in high school with my sons. She always had a hug and a smile for me. Even recently, we would occasionally run into each other at WalMart or McDonald's. Michelle always inquired about her former Redeemer friends - my kids. "Tell them I said hi", was howshe always ended our conversations.
At 6 o'clock this morning, a neighbor looked out her window, across the river, and saw a house fully engulfed in flames. The firefighters believe the house may have been on fire for as much as 6 hours before they were calledto the scene. It was in a remote location, 1/4 mile off of a lonely country road, andin a heavily wooded area. Not one recognizable item remained in the home when the fire wascontrolled enough for fire fighters to enter it. No furniture, appliances, or even doors. One body was discovered within a couple of hours, and the other two were foundearly this evening. They will not be distinguishableuntil the dental records are compared.
Have you ever heard a news story with a passing comment like, "Oh, that's so sad", and then later you find out that it actually involved people you cared for deeply? That happened to me today.
I never watch the local news. Never, ever. Never. Sometimes, I hear it on the radio.
I've been sick with the flu since Saturday, and finally made my way from the bedroom to the couch today. I awoke with the local news on at noon, just in time to hear that3 people died ina fire overnight. It caught myeye as the firefighters talked about how the house was completely consumed before they arrived, and 3 family members were missing and presumed dead.
Then, right at the end of the newscast, they mentioned theremote road this ocurred on, and showed apicture of a sign at the homethat proclaimed, "The Garretts". Andinstantly, Iknew.
Michelle was a classmate of my oldest son's. At the time,our little school had 50 children, from kindergartenthru 8th grade. All of the kids, teachers,and families knew each other inside and out. The "bigkids" were the older "sisters and brothers" that the little ones never had...and the little kids gave the big kids the chance to be someone's hero.Every day, you would see an 8th grader bending down to tie a 1st grader's shoelace, or a kindergartenergrinning and pulling on the arm of a 5th grader, squealing, "Come on, push me on theswings!"
As the school secretary, I wore many hats beside answering the phones andsorting the mail. I was the teacher's assistant, the boo-boo kisser/temperature taker/vomit cleaner-upper/bloody nose fixer-upper/scraped knee bandager, etc. I loved and huggedevery kidin thatschool and took care of them like I didmy own. I was the first one to see when they forgot their lunch, had to make the dreaded trip to the principal's office, and when they signed in...with a great big grin...after going to the orthodontist to have the braces taken off of their teeth. I talked to every parent and sibling, and sometimesknew who was going to have a new baby in their house...before their kids did. I commiserated with the parents when their child got hurt, sick, or in trouble, and celebrated with them when they won awards or got their first A on a spelling test.
In a little school like that, you are a family.
Michelle was 21 years old this year. Our paths continued to crosswhen she was in high school with my sons. She always had a hug and a smile for me. Even recently, we would occasionally run into each other at WalMart or McDonald's. Michelle always inquired about her former Redeemer friends - my kids. "Tell them I said hi", was howshe always ended our conversations.
At 6 o'clock this morning, a neighbor looked out her window, across the river, and saw a house fully engulfed in flames. The firefighters believe the house may have been on fire for as much as 6 hours before they were calledto the scene. It was in a remote location, 1/4 mile off of a lonely country road, andin a heavily wooded area. Not one recognizable item remained in the home when the fire wascontrolled enough for fire fighters to enter it. No furniture, appliances, or even doors. One body was discovered within a couple of hours, and the other two were foundearly this evening. They will not be distinguishableuntil the dental records are compared.
*hugs*
