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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Life Turned Upside Down

Hi there, Pals. It's been a long time since I've blogged, but there's a very good reason. Six weeks ago tomorrow our life was turned upside down. It seemed like a normal Thursday evening at home. Mom and I were sitting on our cool new loveseat with the laptop. We were talking on the phone with Grandma when Mom realized something wasn't right. She could hear a lot of commotion outside and thought it was the downstairs neighbor kids being rowdy again. Then she saw a police car come by our building with its lights on. Mom, being a cop, thought there was a crime occurring. She quickly got off the phone with Grandma and went out the door to see what was happening. She saw one of the downstairs neighbors and a man she didn't know. Mom said, "What's going on?"

"My floor is on fire!" the frantic neighbor girl said. Mom went right into action. She knocked on our three neighbors' doors on our level. Only one person was home, a lady with a little dog. Mom told her there was a fire and to get out of the building, then she came back to our apartment.

Mom grabbed my carrier from under the table and put me in it. She kept saying "Everything's okay, but we have to go." She went to the closet and got the pet emergency kit she has been planning on blogging about. She also grabbed the laptop from the loveseat and through it in its bag with its charger. Her phone was plugged in right there too, so she grabbed them and through them in the bag.

Mom had just bought some hay for Dottie, so she opened the bag and put the hay in Dottie's hay bucket. Mom then grabbed her prescriptions and through them in her purse. She took the hay bucket, pet emergency kit and computer bag and set them outside the door. When she did, she looked downstairs she saw a police officer-and he saw her too. He pointed at her, realizing there were people upstairs. Mom ran back in the apartment, knowing that the officer was going to come after her. She wanted her gun and badge with her, so she ran to her office to get them. That's when the officer came in yelling for her to get out and that there was nothing in the apartment worth dying for. Mom ran back to the living room and asked the officer, "Will you get my guinea pig?" As he picked up Dottie's cage, Mom grabbed me and her purse (plus all the stuff outside the door) and we all ran downstairs.

By this time the firemen were there trying to stop the fire from spreading. Mom put me and Dottie in the SUV where we would stay for a couple of hours. We were blocked in by a fire truck and had no choice but to stay and watch the devastation. Mom called our friend and neighbor Kathi (@CJLegendKitty's mom) and told her to come home. Dad heard the news from some other neighbors and he came home too.

Our apartment is in the very top left corner.
Mom was purraying very hard that they would get the fire put out soon. She really felt like they would save our apartment. That didn't happen though. The wind was blowing VERY hard that night and it was just too much for the firemen to get under control. It spread quickly to other parts of the building.

That's the deck I used to watch birdies from.

Soon, there was nothing left. Mama knew we had lost everything and we would have to start over the next day. But at least we were all together.


That night, we went to a hotel. It was my first time staying in a hotel! Mom had a blanket for me, a litter box, plus food and water. Things were very strange. Mom cried when she went to bed. I didn't like not being at home, so I slept on the bed between Mom and Dad.

The building was completely destroyed.

The next few days were very strange too. During the day, we went to a friend's apartment. I got to wander around there while Dottie stayed at the hotel. We stayed two nights at the hotel, then we moved into our new apartment. It was strange too. It smelled funny and there was no furniture.

Soon, friends started sending us care packages. I got lots of beds, treats, and toys to replace all the stuff I lost in the fire. It took a long time to get my scent on everything. About a week later, we finally got furniture and that made things seem more normal.

Mom and Dad are gone a lot still. They have to go shopping all the time to replace everything. Dad says they'll be done soon and they will be home more with me.

I'm doing good, though! Mom was very proud of me because I didn't have any accidents or anything during the upheaval. I was just happy to be with my family still! Mama is sad over some of the things we lost, but she knows how blessed we are that things worked out the way they did.

Me and the replacement NipDuck someone sent me.

Mom, Dad, me, and Dottie would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped us. Whether you sent us gifts, donated to the chip-in, checked on us to make sure we were okay or prayed for us, it was all appreciated. We never could have made it through without all of you!

21 comments:

  1. We're so happy you guys are getting back on your feet again. Glad Mom knew what to do and was around to help others, too. The pictures made my human cry, but she's like that.

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  2. So GLAD everyone is okay but it must be hard for da hoomans losing things dat can't be replaced. I see da pix and can't your presence of mind in getting you all out. A lesson for us all to be prepared for the unthinkable. Bottom line: thanks da Lord everyone okay.purrs

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  3. I'm so glad to hear from you, Sebastian! I had no idea your human had to sit in her SUV with you guys and watch your home being destroyed - that must have been beyond awful. At least it is behind you and your humans are spending way more time looking forward than back. I am still so grateful you, Dottie, your two humans, Kathi and CJ made it through.

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  4. We're all so happy you're still here with us Seb-a pawful night could have been so much worse! Your Mom was so smart to have an emergency kit ready for you-*High paw* to her! The loss of mementos that can't be replaced is a sad thing but the impurrtant thing is you, Dottie Mom & dad are are safe & together! All of your furiends were so happy to help you a little, I wish I could have given u a ((HUG)) in person but I hope my virtual ones helped!
    Love you very much my sweet furiend! OxOxO

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  5. We are all so very happy that you are all still alive to tell about this. I'm so very sorry that this had to happen to you. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Daffy retweet your tweet - "our apt burned but we are all okay." It was like a nightmare seeing that tweet and knowing we were so far away and helpless. Then GeogeTheDuck swung into action immediately and got a chip in set up for you. M contacted him right away as soon as she saw your first tweet and processed the information in her pea brain and said to George "should we get one going?" He said he had already done it - that's how fast he was. He didn't even think about it - he just did it. Seabastain - you have such a smart mom to have an emergency bag packed for all of you. It's a good lesson for all of us to get a bag packed too because you never know when you will need it. Ours is packed!

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  6. Oh, Seb and your family...we be blinkin lots thinkin of how awful that night must have been, but how calm an organized your Cat Mom was to get you all out safely and bring some important things with her, too. Reminds us all to get that emergency kit together. Teri has one in the car, but maybe she should add a few more things to it...We are glad we could help out with a few green papers, too...

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  7. Wow, Sebastian, that was quite the adventure...and not the good kind. We are so glad that you and your family are safe now. But we purr for all those affected by this terrible fire.

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  8. seeing the pictures made it even scarier... we are glad you all made it out safe - stuff can be replaced. it is a good reminder to have a plan....

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  9. I'm so happy that you, Dottie, your mom and your dad are safe! What an awful experience - I cried when I looked at the pictures! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. xo

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  10. So happy you are all OK. What a terrible thing to have to go through. You always have us anipals to lean on though. Sending much love.

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  11. Your anipal furriends are here for yew Sebastian and yewr whole family. Dat was a bad fing 4 da family to go thru & yew were brave. I agree CatMom stayed calm and collected and most important had pet emergency kit. We are sorry for the things you lost; but the joy will return as you and your Mom & Dad were not harmed and yew can be togefur rebuilding a good, sunpuddle filled life once more.

    Paw waves,
    ChazzTheDog & AdoptedMom

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  12. TW got leaky eyes too reading this. It's nice to finally read it from your perspective. Your Mom didn't panic like TW would've. She would've run out without me with only her Yankee tix or something.

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  13. Glad to see you blogging again, Sebastian! Brew and the rest of the Fab 5 wish you and Dottie and Mom and Dad the best as you rebuild and rediscover the wonders of life.

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  14. We are so happy you survived so well and are back blogging! We continue to hold you and your brave humans in our hearts and send purrayers.

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  15. I had a hard time reading this and seeing those pictures, so I know I can't even begin to imagine how you and your family must feel. You are all together though, and that is most important. You will all adjust together and help each other through all of this. And, all of us will try to help you, too!!

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  16. Sebastian, I'm so glad you and your family are safe. It's so hard to lose a home, and to be there and watch it burn had to be very terrifying. So purr-fect to see you blogging again.

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  17. Sebastian we didn't know you before this tragedy but we are so glad things have worked out and that everyone is safe and that you are back to nearly whole.
    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

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  18. Sebastian, we are so happy to be able to hear from you and know that you are safe. What a scary nightmare! You have an awesome mom that was prepared for an emergency and you all got out of there alive! We can learn a lot from you.

    Purrs to all of you,

    Cory and family

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  19. Mommy said she an' your mom had lunch yesterday (and howz come we didn't get kitteh bags from the restaurant huh?). And that you mom said that March just was a BLUR. We can only imagine all the things you went through... We so glad you is adjusting so well in your new home! And blogging again too! Mommy sez you was a very brave kitteh to stay calm during the first few days!

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  20. I am so sorry you all had to go through such a terrible ordeal. Good thing your mom was so prepared! Hope everything is back to normal soon.

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  21. What an experience! The pictures are devastating, mom was reading this on her phone (on the train to work) and had to stop, it makes her very teary to think of what you had to go through. Thank goodness you and your family are ok. Sending coonhound {{{hugs}}}!

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