After the fire crew arrived and began their scurry to put out the fire, I made a phone call to my best friend – the man I am dating.
Though he lived only minutes away, it seemed forever before he appeared as I kept watch for him.
Finally, I spotted him running down the long driveway (he had to park a couple blocks away due to the myriad of fire trucks and police cars blocking the street)…
I rushed toward him and was immediately engulfed in a hug.
We stood for a while and watched the flames spread as the crew worked diligently to contain the fire – all the while, not a tear did I shed; I couldn’t; everything just seemed so surreal – like one of those awful dreams I couldn’t wake up from; a horrible nightmare that I could not escape.
The thoughts that engulfed my mind (knowing my family was safe) were thoughts of my 17 year-old daughter’s birds – a Lovebird and a Conure – which she adored as though they were her children; she had a deep connection with them and I knew if something happened to them she would be devastated.
Several times over again I pleaded for the firemen to go in and get the birds, but their only concern was to put out the fire.
By the time the fire was finally out, one of the crew members went in briefly, only to return with a confirmation of what I feared…the birds were gone.
Though the fire itself did not reach them, they were unable to survive the smoke. How was I going to break the news to my daughter?
It was Memorial weekend and she was staying at a friend’s house.
She had planned to attend a festival in Seattle for her first time and had been looking forward to the event with excitement…I had to make the phone call that would shatter her heart.
I listened to Robyn Linn interview you. I am inspired by your resilience rebounding from your fire and brilliance in creating your coaching company like a Phoenix. I hope you will, (if you haven’t started already?), write a book about this experience.
I loved hearing about your baby steps and how they have moved you forward. I need to be reminded about this, myself as well.
May you be richly blessed!
Coach Esther Chambers
Creator of the Self Love Success System(tm)
http://www.SayIDoToYou.com(tm)
Thank you, Esther, for your comment and encouragement. I am currently working on a book about my experience and hope it will inspire many to see their power to create brilliance in their own lives. Life is made up of baby steps. In the moment, we seem like we are barely moving, but when we look back at where we began, we realize how much we have really accomplished.