• MissMimi said on Feb 02, 2009....

  That is so sad to see so many years of memories reduced to a pile of charred wood beams.  Still, you are so right when you say that your parents are the most precious treasures to survive the fire.  Valuable beyond price and irreplaceable.  I didn't realize this was also the home where you grew up.  So many memories...  {{{{{hugs}}}}}}

• GrapeKoolaid said on Feb 02, 2009....

  I'm sorry CeeDub.  Losing the home you grew up in must be painful.  I hope holding on to the warm memories of the house dulls the pain somewhat.  I'm glad that no one was hurt, though.  That's a small blessing in itself, isn't it? 
  
  The charred remains of objects are a painful reminder, but objects can be replaced, you know?  It's the lost sentimental values of the objects that I mourn... 
  
  I will keep you in my thoughts. 
  

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 03, 2009....

  Mimi,
  We moved into that house when I was nine years old.  It was sad to see it come down, but it is almost easier to see it down than to look at it all ruined...if that makes any sense.  Thanks for the hugs.
  
  Grape,
  Thanks.  The blessing is beyond measure that Mom and Dad weren't hurt.  My parents worked hard for what they had.  They will be ok though.  Family and friends have rallied around them.   Some little treasures were found in the rubble the days after the fire.  That helps them some.
  
  CW
  

• Hegemone said on Feb 03, 2009....

  CW, gosh I am just still so sorry.  I'm sitting at work right now trying not to go into a crying fit like a blubbering idiot, but I keep feeling little tears fall.  It just brings back such fresh memories of when my own home burned down, so I can imagine how you're feeling.  At least you're staying on the bright side and realize that yes, your parents did get out and they're safe and well.  The material things will not matter, and you still have the memories of events in that house.
  
  You mentioned that it's easier to see it down than to just be all mangled ... man, I cannot agree with you enough.  It's almost misleading to see it still standing, yet it HURTS to look at it, you just get reminded of what all was lost.  When it's down you feel like you're finally getting somewhere, like it's a start and it's not standing there taunting you.  There's something I thought of all these years back now ... it sort of helped me to have a little "memorial" for our house after it was down.  Something to sort of say goodbye and have a little closure with.  I dunno, that might be dumb, but to me it really was devastating losing our home since we lost ALL of our things and almost all of our pets as well. 
  

• woman said on Feb 03, 2009....

  CW~What a sad photo. It was good that you recorded it though. I do understand about it being better to be all the way down. I think it would be the last step before moving on to a new chapter and how wonderful that your parents are able to do that. Hugs. woman

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 03, 2009....

  Hegemone,
  I'm sorry that you lost a home too.  That must have been horrible to lose pets too.  Sorry I brought back sad memories for you.  ((((Hugs))))
  
  woman,
  Thank you.  It is wonderful that they have the means to move on.  Thank heaven for insurance.
  
  CW
  

• Hegemone said on Feb 03, 2009....

  CW, no no, don't be sorry you brought up bad memories, it's been so long now it that I've come to "terms" with it, so to speak.  I just know how it feels to have this happen and I have that emotional stirring for YOU.  I wish YOU didn't have to go through it because I know all to well how it feels.  Just know that I'm here for ya, listening and I understand.  

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 03, 2009....

  Hegemone,
  Thank you.  I think I worry about my parents more than what was lost.  It's a lot of stress for them.  My family has had a lot of tragedy over the past five years or so.  We're all ready for some good fortune.
  
  CW
  

• wombat said on Feb 03, 2009....

  What a sad thing to see....sorry again that this happened but of course glad it wasn't worse.  I hope your parents get situated soon and can put this behind them.

• Hegemone said on Feb 03, 2009....

  I could imagine that you all are ready.  Maybe this was the way for that good fortune to come through.  Although you lost some precious belongings, maybe it's a new start ... I mean, how more of a new start can you get than from having to either start from scratch or move to another home?  I'd look for the good in this then ... I think you'll find LOTS of it if you pay attention along the way.

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 03, 2009....

  wombat,
  Thank you.  Hopefully, they will get the house they put the offer in on.  Then they can be occupied with excitement of moving in.
  
  Hegemone,
  Mom and Dad will have a new house for their golden years and one that is all on one level.  They will be happy with that part of it. 
  
  CW
  

• Me-Myself&I said on Feb 03, 2009....

  i haven't saw the picture yet, may not neither....scary to me.... but i just wanted you to know my prayers are still with your parents. even if they do have a new home, their loses will stay on their minds and in their hearts for some time to come. terrible, so i hope and pray they remain strong and safe. sigh..........

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 03, 2009....

  Thank you, MMI.  Prayer is always appreciated.  :-)
  
  CW
  

• kruuyai said on Feb 13, 2009....

  Wow, that brings back some memories.  I had a similar experience with my grandmother's house.  It was the house that my mom grew up in with her parents and her 5 siblings.  As a child, we used to visit in the summer and play with all our cousins, sleeping in the same room where my mom and her sister used to throw hairbrushes at each other.  We used to play with the kids whose grandmother lived next door.  They often visited their grandparents at the same time that we visited ours.  They had a beautiful green wooden house on a grassy slope with a huge yard.  Somewhere along the way, the house was sold to the shipbuilding company that had their shipyards just across the street (the house was that close to the bay).  The neighbor's house got demolished, the lawn was torn out, and an asphalt parking lot was born.
  
   When Grandma and Grandpa were older, their house was put up for sale, too... they had been renting it all those years.  They couldn't get a loan without a co-signer, and my parents co-signed for them.  My grandmother died while living in that house, and my grandfather lived there for more than a decade after that before he could no longer take care of himself and was moved to a nursing home where he died a few years later.  My parents sold the house for not much money, because it was practically falling down. 
  
  When I went back home for my high school reunion 12 years ago, I drove "up north" with my parents to visit some aunts and uncles.  They had mentioned that it had finally been resold to the shipbuilding company and was going to be torn down.  I couldn't help looking at it as I drove past.  It was in such bad shape it's hard to imagine that there had been somebody living in it not long before that.  Glancing in the rear view mirror, I saw my Mom looking, too.  With all the memories that that glance brought back for me, I can't even imagine what it was like for my Mom.  She was close to her mother, and I think it was really hard for her to see that house come down.
  

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 13, 2009....

  That's a very touching story, Kru.  I know it had to sting a bit to see your grandparents home like that  At least the good memories remain.
  
  CW
  

• kruuyai said on Feb 14, 2009....

  Yes, when I think of that house, I usually see it from the inside, full of life and intriguing old stuff.  :)

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 14, 2009....

  I know exactly how you feel.  I remember all those things too.
  
  CW
  

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