taxes schmaxes
So I did my taxes the other day, and when I was done, I felt all kinds of grown up, but today…just now as a matter of fact, I did something for the first time in my life. I called 911. Now, don’t go being all alarmed. Everything is ok with me. But when I got home from my morning class around 1:30, I saw smoke coming from the apartment complex behind ours. I drove around to see if something was really burning that shouldn’t be burning, or if it was just somebody burning some brush or something. As I drove around the parking lot, I saw several other people heading that way, and everybody was on their cell phones. I figured they were probably calling 911 too, but I didn’t want to be one of those people who assumes that someone else will call for help, and then nobody calls for help because they all assume that somebody else will do it. Plus, when I got to a place where I could really see it, I saw that one of the buildings of the other apartment complex was on fire. Like for real on fire. Burning.
I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a building burning in real life before. Only on TV, and even if you see it on the news, there’s a certain distance between you and it. I think it has to do with the medium. You see the real news and the fictional movies on the same electronic box in your living room, and it’s really easy to lump them all together into “things that don’t matter because they aren’t a tangible part of my life.” I know that sounds horribly calloused and apathetic. It is, really, and I should stop thinking like that immediately. Seeing that fire, though, brought me out of that mindset a little. As I was driving back around to my apartment, I dialed 911, and while I was on the phone with the woman, I saw a girl about my age out with her dog. I saw her see the smoke and realize that something was burning. Then I saw her start running towards it. It could have been her place burning. It could have been her stuff all disappearing. She could be homeless right now.
I’m going to head over there later, after things settle down, and see if there’s anything I can do. If I hear of any needs, and if any of you want to help, let me know, and I’ll let you know. In the meantime, here’s a news story about it. If you’re the praying type, these people could sure use some right about now.
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I came across your blog on Technorati. Nice site layout. I will stop by and read more soon.
Mike Harmon
I hope those people are okay.
You know, I have called 911 twice. One was when the bathroom above mine flooded and was dripping into my light fixtures and I was afraid to touch anything. The fire department came, but they couldn’t do anything. I asked them to break down my upstairs neighbor’s door with their ax, but they said no.
The second time I called 911 was when I got locked inside my apartment (that’s right, inside). My claustrophobia took over and I was totally panicked by the idea that I couldn’t get out. So I called 911 for them to come get me out. The operator just recommended that I call a locksmith. That worked too.