I returned to my parents house recently to take survey of what progress has been made. It's been one month since the house I grew up in burned down. On the surface not much has happened. The carcass of the house still stands as it did on that fatefull day.
I walk through what little is left of the garage into the back yard. They have added some more tarps and plywood to protect the charred interior from the elements and any unscrupulous visitors. All the melted appliances and various bits of debris have been shovelled up into a dumpster leaving the garage floor slick and sooty. But other than that not much has happened. Inside the house items that escaped the fire have either been thrown away or taken to be cleaned and returned to my parents, including a casket flag that belonged to my grandfather when he was buried in Willamette National Cemetery.
We are waiting to hear what the structural engineers had to say about the surviving portions of the house, which will determine how long it will take to rebuild the house (I understand permits for existing structures are a WHOLE lot easier to get than permits for new structures). We are still waiting on the insurance to rule on my mothers Jeep and my parents travel trailer.
But underneath the surface, things are starting to grow again. Like a forest after a large fire, life begins anew. My parents have moved into a temporary apartment until their house is finished. They have purchased a new bed and lots of items for the kitchen (my mother loves to cook). And some other items, thanks to the generosity of co-workers, mothers, fathers and mine for their generous support, monetary and otherwise.
This year we had Christmas at my house. My parents and I went out and got a six foot Grand Fir, leaving the house smelling of pine, which I'm enjoying. Then I borrowed several boxes of decorations and some strangs of lights from a friend and purchased a few more to decorate the tree. We placed the presents saved from the fire under the tree right away (in years past, no presents were placed under the tree until after us kids had gone to bed).
Christmas Eve, my parents, both sisters and their respective significant others came over for dinner. our house is not the typical bachelor pad when it comes to kitchen utensils, but when my mother started cooking dinner I quickly realized our kitchen was lacking some basic items... But even without a potatoe masher and meat fork, dinner was excellent. So much so, that shortly after we all went to sleep, food comas in full effect.
Christmas morning brought a great breakfast and lots of joy as we all sat around the tree, opened presents, reminisced and watched christmas movies (and one visit from the neighbors when the movie got a bit too loud).
Overall, this was the best Christmas in recent memory. Not for what each of us received, but because we were able to enjoy it together. I've never been one for taking people for granted, but a tradegy like this really makes you stop and realize how short your time is with the ones you love. I'm eagerly looking forward to next Christmas and being with the one I love. |