Not the way to wake up.
The siren of an emergency vehicle woke me up. Unusual, as they generally don't run with their sirens on during the night on our rural road. So I look at the clock, and besides noting that it was 4:34, I also saw flickering orange light against my curtains.
Did anyone ever grab their glasses and get out of bed faster?
It didn't appear to be the house across the street, though his garage to the north was disturbingly backlit. Out the other window, facing north, I could see flashing red lights. We had an ice storm two days before Christmas, and all the trees are still encased in ice, so all light was being reflected back many times.
Was it a fire? I couldn't be sure, so - after going to the bathroom - I pulled on jeans, jacket, hat, gloves and boots, and went out. There seemed to be more red lights and less orange, and I couldn't smell anything, but there were a lot of vehicles, so I asked a fireman what was up.
It is a fire. Not my neighbor directly to the north, not the abandoned house across from her, but the house down a looong driveway next to the abandoned house. I've only met the woman once, but my neighbor to the south says a rather odd crew live there with her. Or did.
They had gotten her out of the house, but the driveway wasn't plowed so they couldn't get the trucks in. They were waiting for a plow.
Not plowed? It snowed... five days ago? And she was living there? I remember last winter the driveway wasn't plowed, either, they just parked at the end and walked in. I didn't think anyone was there this winter, not that I pay a lot of attention.
It's been an hour. There are still a lot of vehicles and flashing lights. One truck has backed into the driveway across the street and its headlights are shining directly into my bedroom. Still no visible fire or smoke.
[...]
My friend next door called. I hadn't called her as I thought she was working, but she has the day off. She called me only because she thought I was up as my garage light was on and the door was open.
Noooooo. So I put on the boots and go out, and there were tracks from K's house (he rents the little house behind my barn) to the garage. OK. It's about time for him to go to work, anyway. Then his headlights came on, but he didn't leave. Neighbor A says he's shoveling. Shoveling? We had 2" of snow, and he has a 4 wheel drive. A few minutes go by and he's still there. She has an ambulance pull into her driveway. I go to see what K's up to, and someone knocks on her door.
K's parking brake is frozen on his truck. I'm still waiting for A to call back. Maybe I'll just go over there, drive her dog a little crazier. (Mine's sleeping.) Maybe I'll go back to bed.
Did anyone ever grab their glasses and get out of bed faster?
It didn't appear to be the house across the street, though his garage to the north was disturbingly backlit. Out the other window, facing north, I could see flashing red lights. We had an ice storm two days before Christmas, and all the trees are still encased in ice, so all light was being reflected back many times.
Was it a fire? I couldn't be sure, so - after going to the bathroom - I pulled on jeans, jacket, hat, gloves and boots, and went out. There seemed to be more red lights and less orange, and I couldn't smell anything, but there were a lot of vehicles, so I asked a fireman what was up.
It is a fire. Not my neighbor directly to the north, not the abandoned house across from her, but the house down a looong driveway next to the abandoned house. I've only met the woman once, but my neighbor to the south says a rather odd crew live there with her. Or did.
They had gotten her out of the house, but the driveway wasn't plowed so they couldn't get the trucks in. They were waiting for a plow.
Not plowed? It snowed... five days ago? And she was living there? I remember last winter the driveway wasn't plowed, either, they just parked at the end and walked in. I didn't think anyone was there this winter, not that I pay a lot of attention.
It's been an hour. There are still a lot of vehicles and flashing lights. One truck has backed into the driveway across the street and its headlights are shining directly into my bedroom. Still no visible fire or smoke.
[...]
My friend next door called. I hadn't called her as I thought she was working, but she has the day off. She called me only because she thought I was up as my garage light was on and the door was open.
Noooooo. So I put on the boots and go out, and there were tracks from K's house (he rents the little house behind my barn) to the garage. OK. It's about time for him to go to work, anyway. Then his headlights came on, but he didn't leave. Neighbor A says he's shoveling. Shoveling? We had 2" of snow, and he has a 4 wheel drive. A few minutes go by and he's still there. She has an ambulance pull into her driveway. I go to see what K's up to, and someone knocks on her door.
K's parking brake is frozen on his truck. I'm still waiting for A to call back. Maybe I'll just go over there, drive her dog a little crazier. (Mine's sleeping.) Maybe I'll go back to bed.