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LiteraryLark
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Unhappy Sep 19, 2021 at 10:21 PM
  #1
Hello everyone,

I had been living on my own for two months in a mobile home. I had been scared of using the oven because I was afraid I'd burn the place down. My mom told me on the phone there was nothing to be scared of, go make a pizza. So I start the oven for the first time and put the pizza in. After a few minutes, I hear weird noises and smell smoke. The kitchen was smoky, okay, well, I burned the pizza. I open the doors and windows to let the smoke out and open up the oven. Billowing smoke comes out and I see flames inside the oven. Oh ****. I immediately call 911 and by the time the dispatcher asked where the fire was located my entire kitchen was on fire. I ran outside and the police and firetruck show up and I watch my house burned down.

Long story short, the fire marshall told me the gasline had been disconnected from the oven prior to my move and that there was a rubber tray inside the oven which caught fire, and had I done anything differently, the house and I would have blown up along with the rest of the neighborhood. The exterior was still standing but the insides were burnt entirely all the way to the bedroom where there was heavy smoke damage.

My mobile home was perfect. It had a patio with a forest behind it where a Mama deer and her two babies lived which I provided bird seed apples and carrots for them. I had lots of birds and squirrels too that I fed. In two months I had planted over twenty outdoor plants and cared for ten indoor plants. It came with a TV with a DVD player and surround system that I hooked up my Spotify into and danced around to music while I was cleaning. I was always cleaning and took such great pride into my house. It was my first home and my first taste of independence.

Luckily, my cat Evy had been converted into an outdoor cat and had she had not been, she would have hid under the bed and smoked to death. I managed to save my pink camo backpack that I've had since I was 6, my stuffed animal Sam that I've had for 25 years, both of which had been through the Tubbs wildfire in 2017, and my clothes were protected in a closet and after a few washes were as good as new. I was also able to save my military bag and half my books...all those I collected after the fire had been put out. I thought it was so sweet that the fireman personally rescued my stuffed animal. He got the royal heroic fireman treatment. Sam and the pink camo backpack are currently at the dry cleaners being brought back to their normal selves...Sam is defintely overdue for a bath after 25 years hahaha.

I took a week and a half off of work to take care of business, and now I'm working on my last two weeks of work before transferring to a FT position at a local pet store.

On the 27th I am going to apply to a studio apartment and it sounds like they realty people are impressed, they must be if they gave my money back to reapply because I couldn't afford the apartment...I submitted a cover letter and four letters of recommendation...so I guess it must be meant to be. I'm not happy with the studio because its so small, but if it's anything like the other apartments its very modern and up to date. But there are two major plus sides: one, it's conveniently located within 5 minutes drive time or 30 minutes walking distance to my work, and two, it's got an ocean view. Eventually, I'd like to save up my money and stay at a job long enough to buy my own mobile home, but for now, I trust in God and knows He will provide me with what I need...I believe God speaks, and it turns out that I saved all the essentials and sentimentals...all my important docs and receipts, my most precious books, my stuffed animal and my backpack, and my clothes made it. So maybe I went overboard with decorating my house and saved up too much stuff. As Elwood Blues says, "The Lord works in mysterious ways".

Anyway, I've been dealing with a million phone calls and appointments and the last two weeks of work (which has been hellish, most definitely) and I thought I'd update you guys too, as many of you may remember me when I was more proactive on the forums.

I do not know the rules about posting fundraisers on PC, but I do have a GoFundMe, and if it doesn't break the rules, you can send me a PM if you're interested in donating.
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Default Sep 20, 2021 at 07:07 PM
  #2
Oh my gosh! I just had to reply to tell you that I don't know you but that doesn't mean that I'm not SOOOOO happy that you survived AND that you got to keep your most cherished possessions after all of that! God was surely watching over you!

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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 08:10 AM
  #3
I am not to sure I know what to say. I am very sorry to hear this had happened to you. I do hope you keep yourself as well as you can as something like this can be a hugely difficult time. As Moose 72 said above it is good news that you survived as well as eve the cat and Sam the stuffed toy along with some of the books. Do look after yourself. All the best.

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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 08:37 AM
  #4
I am so sorry to hear this. So glad you survived the fire. I hope you can find support in this time. I always appreciate your posts about things literary. Anyway, I am keeping you in my thoughts.

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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 10:13 AM
  #5
I thought I replied to you last night.

Lark, this is weird you've been in my thoughts a lot lately. I'm glad you, Evey and Sam survived. While the circumstances suck I'm struck by how well you handled the whole thing. You've grown so much in the time I've known you here on the forums! Go girl!

Last edited by lizardlady; Sep 21, 2021 at 11:38 AM..
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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 10:35 AM
  #6
That’s so shocking, I’m so sorry! So happy you survived, though, and managed to save some things.
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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 01:05 PM
  #7
I'm very sorry you went through this, but I am impressed by the positive attitude you are taking. Other people who'd been through such a fire might be wallowing in self-pity. But you are really making the best of things.
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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 02:35 PM
  #8
So Sorry for everything that you've been through also! Please Do not give up! Hugs. i agree with the other wise and wonderful posters about being really happy that you're alive and well at least. Please Do try your best to get your life back on track as it seems like you're already wonderfully doing. m. Do not let this discourage you from moving on and doing your Best. You seem like a really strong person and i Hope that things will work out for the best. i also hope things will Improve really soon for everyone obviously. Do try your Best. Love. m. Be Kind. Be Generous. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @LiteraryLark, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 03:23 PM
  #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by downandlonely View Post
I'm very sorry you went through this, but I am impressed by the positive attitude you are taking. Other people who'd been through such a fire might be wallowing in self-pity. But you are really making the best of things.
So well put. Lark, i am so sorry. I am going thru similar stuff of my own right now, so all of this is just breaking me. But i will try to learn from your strength. So proud of you.
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LiteraryLark
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Default Sep 22, 2021 at 12:40 AM
  #10
Thank you everyone for your support.

I don't think the letdown or depression has really hit, but my emotions are very much a rollercoaster at times. All I can do is think of the positives, count my blessings, and move forward. I have so much support from my family and my best friends, and they are so proud of how I've been handling things and taking care of business. And I have a lot to look forward to. With my new job, this is the first job I've ever had where I am allowed to where whatever I want and not just a uniform or polo shirts, so I took a joyride over to the Goodwill and indulged in retail therapy. I spent four hours at Goodwill trying on 100,000,000 outfits and I had an absolute blast. I'm really honing in on my inner fashionista and I'm definitely dedicating myself to look my best at my new job.

I also have a really great counselor. I like her so much that I was scheduled to see her the day after the fire, and after spending 8 hours digging through my house and doing business on the phone and meeting with the landlord, I told her that I really need to see her but I'm filthy and sweaty and wearing crappy clothes and not my usual self, can we meet somewhere in an open space outside of her office? She agreed and we met at a nearby coffee shop and I vented and poured my heart out and cried, and she was so supportive and really encouraged me to let out my feelings and helped me process how I was feeling. And now I'm seeing her tomorrow after that last visit and she'll see I'm more like myself again even after two weeks. I've been seeing her for three years and she's the best counselor I've ever had.
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LiteraryLark
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Default Sep 22, 2021 at 12:44 AM
  #11
There's a lot of things that could have gone wrong, but God and karma are at work and I have faith in my higher power and there's things that have happened or not happened revolving around the fire which are beyond coincidences, and all things are pointing towards something even better. I am very blessed to have had so many good things happening to me even though I've experienced a very traumatic event and I have so much support from my loved ones that I am doing okay.
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Default Oct 13, 2021 at 08:46 PM
  #12
OMG! I JUST saw this now! I am not on here too much anymore but so sorry! This is my worst fear. Above anything. How are you doing now??

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LiteraryLark
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Default Oct 23, 2021 at 01:14 PM
  #13
To Medusax and all my friends at PC,

I went to the property the other day, and the maintenance man who was there told me the house will be liveable again in approximately three months!!! Whaaaaat!?!?!? So basically, the exterior is fully intact, but the kitchen and living room must be gutted, and everything else in the house is mostly smoke damage...but they said it's fixable!

I am working on getting ahold of the realty people, and it's been difficult to reach them but I am trying not to worry about it because they said they saw no issue in me returning to the house. I hope I don't come off as a pest, but it is VERY EXCITING NEWS!

I am so much happier working at the pet store then I did as a caregiver. The pay and hours are the same (not quite--pet store hours are consistent), but a fraction of the stress and wear and tear on my body. And I get to see cute puppies, kittens, even a pet possum and pet rats. Lots of people buy crickets to feed their frogs and reptiles. My coworkers are so positive and caring and really appreciate the work I do. I'm a slow learner, but they see I try my hardest and are happy with how I interact with the customers.
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Default Oct 23, 2021 at 01:41 PM
  #14
That’s great news! Let’s hope the next three months fly by. I’m so happy for you, and your new job sounds great!
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Default Oct 23, 2021 at 02:37 PM
  #15
So happy for your new job!!! And fingers crossed for the house!
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Default Oct 23, 2021 at 04:28 PM
  #16
Glad to hear about your job and that you can move back into your house. You've handled this very well.
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