posted
So, my sister calls me about an hour ago, suitably dramatic, letting me know that there is a horrific fire engulfing the town of Cascade Locks, where my parents live. CL is a small town, population 1000, and it takes up, maybe, five miles of off-freeway road along the Columbia River (which separates Washington from Oregon).
I'm suitably worried - my parents are just getting home from work, and apparently the fire has not be contained at all. It's eaten up an old restaurant and a few houses, and the Columbia Gorge winds are blowing the embers to each side of the freeway, which runs through/over the town.
My parents live right off of this freeway.
I call my dad, and I swear I haven't heard him this giddy in years. "Oh, yeah!" he says, "I'm just here drinking beer ready to assist the firemen in any way," which absolutely cracks me up. Joking about your dad's 'firehose' is normally pretty disturbing, but amidst tragedy it's just downright hysterical. We laugh for about fifteen minutes, and he assures me that he's put the sprinkler on top of the house and they've got all the pictures/family mementos packed up. My mom gets on the phone, and we joke around a bit, too.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure you knew we're concerned and we love you. And, you know, to make sure my name is on top of the will," I say.
"Of course, sweetie! Everything is insured, too. And, if we get cooked here, we'll already be cremated, so you'll save on funeral expenses," my Mom replies.
"Sweet!"
They've got friends on the other side of the River, so they don't need a place to stay. Yes, everything is taken care of, no, I don't have to worry. Thanks for the call, I love you, too. Bye. ::click::
I always wondered where my penchant for laughing during tragedy came from. Now I know - from both parents.
Well, good thing my sister has the panicking and drama under control.
(Oh, and full story of the fire here.)
Posts: 7600 | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Honestly that is funny! Not in a cruel sense but we always joke about tragedy in our family. Its either that or end up in the looney bin. Our family has been through so much we'd all end up there.
Hoping the best for your parents and their house.
Posts: 1132 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
| IP: Logged |
posted
And I thought it was going to be a disturbing account of how get back at someone who really annoys you. Then again, after last nights Big Brother episode, my husband thinks I'm the most devious person he's ever met and has finally realized the only way he's getting out of this marriage is in a coffin.
(Not that I'm planning on killing him, I just told him what I would do if I were in a certain position in the BB house right now and he couldn't believe anyone could even come up with such a devious plan. That was when he made the comment about not being able to divorce me. He says that a lot, though, because I think deep down, he's actually a bit frightened of me. I have no idea why, of course. :angelsmilie: Really, I don't.)
posted
Natural disasters always seem to bring out that side in some people. I've never been in a fire situation, but I heard a lot of joking around when I was working on sandbag crews when my town was flooding. I think it has something to do with the adrenaline. It's scary, but it's also sort of exhilarating.
That link made it sound like things are mostly under control. I hope you and yours are OK.
Posts: 4534 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I hate to add another fire to Hatrack, but my uplighter was looking awfully close to exploding into flame a few minutes ago and I didn't even notice until my father came in and dived at the light switch. (it's usually bright, it was very hot and very red)
*phew*
This is a day of fire.
I hope other people's fire stories end as well as mine. Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Parents are fine. The fire is now under control. No need to collect insurance. No more fire-hose references, and so the world makes sense once again.
Thanks for everyone's well-wishing. I'm sure it helped but the smack-down on those embers flying willy-nilly. Posts: 7600 | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
good one.
