August blessings

At 1am this morning, I stood on my front drive looking at the terraced house, five doors down, that was on fire. I kid you not, a total blaze. The street was filled with fire engines, police cars and shocked neighbours.
 
It was a frightening scene. 
 
Your heart goes out to the young family, who I later learnt were away on their annual holiday. Your brain immediately puts yourself in their shoes. To lose a lifetime of items must be heart breaking. The photographs, the documents and the memorable items that can never be replaced – simply gone!
 
Today, a strange silence has descended upon our street – plus, there’s a blackened house that has drawn quite a crowd of passing sight-seers, be it on foot or those slowly driving passed.
 
This afternoon, I saw the young couple, returning from the airport, to be advised by the fire officer of a sequence of events. Devastating.
 
The realities of life, hit home, as we each count our blessings.
 
Should the unfortunate ever happen to me – I know what I’d grab:
 
My dog
My three tortoises
A white tissue – kept in the back of my purse
A bracelet - a family heirloom
My laptop
My first school photograph, aged five
 
The rest would be left behind.

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