Neighbors @ MindSay 
friends
There was a house fire in our neighborhood last night. The house went up in flames, a total loss. The family wasn’t home at the time. Their 3 dogs were rescued but their cat remains missing. The fire started around 5 pm. My husband smelled the smoke and we obviously heard all the sirens. He went out to investigate, came back home and reported “the house on the corner is on fire”.
While I didn’t really know the family, they had just moved in over the summer, from my walks around the neighborhood I knew they had animals. The cat would sit in the open windows like cats are prone to do and survey his new hood. The dogs would bark at the door when I walked by with my lab. My husband reported that” luckily no is home” which I answered with the standard “well, thank god for that, everyone is at least safe”. Then I remembered the animals. He had already left the house to go back to the scene of the fire. I ran after him to ask about the status of the animals. By this time a crowd of probably 25 neighbors had gathered to watch the blaze. I found one of the young girls who lived in the house meandering along the sidewalk among the smoke and transfixed neighbors. She confirmed that all 3 of their dogs were safe and being held in their car. As she and I watched the action of the fire fighters and police, neighbors returning home from work gathered and the crowd grew.
We are a fairly small neighborhood which implies familiarity but in actuality we’re a pretty isolated neighborhood. We’re a diverse neighborhood with a fair amount of Indians, who hang out with their fellow Indians. A fair amount of Asians, who hang out with their fellow Asians and the rest of us are a mix of black and white. As I ran back home to close the windows in my house from the thickening smoke, my Indian neighbor next door, who I have never really spoken with, asked about the fire. We quietly chatted and watched the flames shoot out of the roof over the fences of our adjoining backyards. The single woman on the other side of my house came out as well and the Indian and I filled her in on the story. The 3 of us now silently watched the blaze.
After closing the windows and making sure the now 6 dogs at my house were ok, we took in the families 3 dogs while the fire was being worked and we have 3 of our own, I headed back to the street to find my husband. By this time, the atmosphere was downright festive. Albeit in a macabre way. My son and a neighbor boy were working the scene taking pictures with their cell phones. The lights from the EMS vehicles and fire trucks created an almost strobe affect on the street as I watched now roughly 60 neighbors take in the action. As I watched the scene before me I took in the small groups of neighbors clustered relaying to each other what little information they had regarding how the fire started. Groups of whites, blacks, Indians and Asians. All together now taking in the neighborhood fire. The family members of the house on fire were given jackets to ward off the chill as the sun was now setting. They were offered water. I thought a stiff drink would have been more appropriate. A group of us fellow neighbors attempted to console one of the daughters in the family. Hugs were given, platitudes offered, a warm jacket provided. It occurred to me after, that I don’t even know that young girls name. I guess it doesn’t really matter.
After a time the crowd started to thin. Neighbors left to go make their dinners, to put small kids to bed, to make phone calls to friends and family and regale them with the story. My husband came home to check our smoke detectors and GFI loads on our outlets. He says it was an electrical fire. He could tell by the smell of the smoke.
We have now 5 dogs, the family did take the smallest, a min pin, with them to a hotel for the night. They said they will pick up the other 2 in the morning. After they find an extended stay for all of them. We of course told them to not worry about the dogs. When you have 3 already, really what’s 2 more? I told them we would keep our eye out for Moonshine (the missing cat). Maybe he got out when the firefighters were breaking windows. I really hope. They informed us that Moonshine is an indoor cat only. He’s never been outside. They weren’t hopeful that he would venture out even in the face of impending death. After they left, my husband said to me that he didn’t even think to ask their names. He asked me if I knew their names. I said no. I never asked.
In the light of a sunshiny crisp fall morning the sun shines on the charred remains of the house on the corner. When I took my kids to school this morning there were already a few neighbors out looking at the house over their morning cups of coffee. I noticed an elderly Asian woman and a young Indian mother talking together and gesturing at the house. I smiled to myself. Feeling guilty for feeling grateful that the house on the corner burned. I’m sorry for the displaced family but I hope that through this shared experience a bond may have formed in our isolated neighborhood and perhaps we will begin to learn each other’s names.
A crazy party on the weekend I can understand... hey, everybody needs to let loose a bit, yeah? But a fucking Tuesday? Just... no.
I had entertained the thought of calling up WC's finest, but decided instead to let my landlord handle things. I spoke with him tonight and learned that my complaint was one among many against Mr./Ms. McAsshat, and someone actually moved out because of McAsshat's attitude and general disrespect towards other tenants. Landlord said he'll be whipping up a notice next week kindly asking McAsshat to either shape up or GTFO.
I probably should feel guilty about having a hand in potentially kicking someone out of their home, but I really don't. *glares at ceiling*
iTunes: LOOOOOOOST.
iFeel:
vindicated
With the election drawing near and with respect, a couple things ...
1. I do not believe it is the gov't's responsibility to feed, cloth or house the population. Comfort and convenience are not among our inalienable rights. As adults, it is our responsibility to see to our own needs. It is the gov’t’s responsibility to provide accountability and security while we tend to our daily lives. Somewhere along the line, these duties have been adulterated. There are simply too many able-bodied people consistently on welfare. That said, it is, in fact, the "Church's" (religions’) responsibility to help those in genuine need, and if the Church was doing it's job, welfare recipients would be receiving from the local Church, rather than being a burden on the taxpayers at large ... and they would do so with no strings attached!
2. It is not just corporate greed that has created the fiasco on Wall Street, but universal greed! Credit card debt like never before to pay for the 2 or three SUV's, wall size flat screen TV's, and $450k homes all played and continue to play a huge part ... none of these belong to me. I do not begrudge these things to those who can afford them. But while, yes, I am a McCain supporter, his economic plan will only succeed as far as the population is willing to buy only what they can actually afford, and not continue to spend like there is no tomorrow, for surely, tomorrow will come ... and yes, our kids will pay. In the event that Obama is elected, the same holds true. We must live within our means!
3. Hatred is morally wrong no matter who is purporting it, and more importantly, it is counter-productive. I am certain that in spite of the fact that you and I think differently about the way to economic and/or moral recovery, that you have the interest of others in mind, and for that, I thank you. It makes me sad that there is hatred on either side of the aisle because in the long run, we are all Americans and ... united we stand; divided, we fall. I respect any and all who put actions to their beliefs, even when their beliefs are different from mine.
4. I believe strongly that the media plays a pivotal role in the bitterness that is being continually fueled at this point in the campaigns. I would like nothing more than to hear and/or read only that which directly comes from their mouths, rather than as it is cut and printed, dismembered and reassembled by the media to their own end ... after all, they too are out for our money!
5. Church or no church, I believe we are our brothers’ keeper in so far as we are able. If we know a neighbor is in need, it is the neighborly thing to do to help, if possible. If unable to do this, we can at the very least, stand with our neighbors. I am guilty on this count. I do not know my neighbors well enough to know if there is a need I might be able to help with. This is something I want to correct … It doesn’t necessarily mean handing out $20 bills (although if anyone knows of someone doing this, sign me up!) but helping with yard work, fixing a broken washing machine, changing someone’s automobile oil or brakes … Neighbor used to be an ALIVE word … not just a geographical designation. . . but I digress …
OK, so bottom line, while I embrace all who think and feel strongly about our nation and her issues, I encourage those who have not investigated or thought about these issues to do so and choose the candidate that most closely aligns with your beliefs. I’ve said this before and I’m saying it again … It is only when the people care enough to participate that a democracy can succeed and stand strong.
Read this from http://ladyshirea.mindsay.com/!
~ B
Howdy, howdy all
Well my apartment has running water but still no power but no worries because I am still welcome at my friends place and he hass all the amenities I am lacking. The water was on and we could thankfully flush the toilets but couldnt really shower properly til yesterday. So last night I took a nice, hot QUICK (gotta be considerate of others of course) shower and let me just say that I feel really good. So many people dont have the luxury of even a cold shower or a working toilet so I feel really thankful for my friends and their willingness to share and invite people into their home.
Thanks to everyone who wished us all well. I had the opportunity to clean out my refrigerator and EWWWWW gross. I mean I got a bunch of the frozen stuff out before it thawed so that was cool but the fruits and such did not fair so well. Oops was I whining just now...Nope but let me say that if someone wants to talk about how they are fairing in this situation then I would never presume to diminish their suffering. With so many random acts of misfortune we should all be mindful of the fact that some things are beyond our control and I hope that we all remember to think of others (not me necessarily because like I said I am pretty much good news) but Torridgirl and Myclette have been without power since last Thursday and Myclette is still dealing with no water or power and Torridgirl has no power still. If I were them I would be WHINING like a little baby but NEITHER of them is and both are still extending the supplies that they have to neighbors who might have less, how's that for whining...
There are countless folks doing the same and more for their neighbors (hell someone is helping me by HOUSING and FEEDING me right now).
Peace and Love y'all
Goddess Bless...
Forgive all typos, I am flying through this because someone is kind enough to let me use their internet connection and computer...
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