Grateful for a wrist injury... and more

Mom's a bowler.  So is Dad.  They love to bowl and do so a number of times each week.

Yesterday, Mom injured her wrist somehow (the how remains a mystery) and so tonight she couldn't bowl.  She stayed home to nurse the injury while Dad went on to bowl without her.

Twas a good thing.

I was in the shower when my wife came in to report that Mom had called and was a tad panicky.  She smelled something burning in the house but couldn't find the source.  My little brother and his wife were there and were trying to find out what was burning.  We live 5 minutes away and so Mrs. Brutally Honest was dispatched to go without me to help and I would be there as soon as I towelled  off and got dressed.

Twas a good thing.

As I came down the stairs and readied to leave (maybe 5 minutes after my wife had left), I heard the sirens.  First one, then another, then one more.

I arrived at Mom's house roughly 5 minutes later.  I saw my sister's husband's truck parked behind my wife's vehicle on the side road we use to get to Mom's from behind her townhouse.  At the front were a number of firetrucks and one ambulance, lights a'whirling, sirens winding down.

Twas now not a good thing quickly turning into a scary thing.

I ran to the front door and followed two firemen into the house.  Mom was there, panic apparently subsiding, happy to see me, and relief etched in the lines of her face.

One of the firemen was wrestling a large mirror that had been placed on the fireplace hearth (there temporarily while some painting was being done).  I moved out of his way as he took that mirror out the front door.  I noticed he was in a hurry and wearing very thick gloves.  I also noticed that the large mirror seemed to be emitting tiny, barely observable whiffs of smoke.  I was near enough to feel the heat coming off of it as he carried it outdoors.

Apparently, painters had inadvertently switched the gas fireplace on, which had overheated the large mirror (in a wooden frame with a wooden back).  Mom figures the fireplace had been burning for roughly two hours.

Mom, brother and wife, brother-in-law, my wife, and a neighbor had searched for the source of the burning odor to no avail, including checking the townhome next to Mom's. Brother had called his police dispatcher who directed local firefighters to the scene and just as they were arriving, Mrs. Brutally Honest, a woman whose common sense is matched only by her good looks, had noticed, from across the room, that the gas switch that lights the fireplace was in the on position.  She then noticed that the mirror was leaning against the fireplace, blocking the view of the fire burning within.

Twas definitely a very good thing.

I walked in just as she, like the proverbial traffic cop, was directing the firemen to the source of the mystery smell, now a mystery solved.

Tonight, we consider in gratitude a painful wrist that kept Mom from doing what she loves and staying home, a family (and neighbors) that rushed to the aid of a Mother and friend we all love, and an observant wife who continues to find ways to simply amaze me.

All very good things. 

Indeed.

Comments

[stephanie]

Someone else, very long ago, found "a good thing"
"He who finds a wife finds a great good;
he has won the favour of Adonai."

[anj]

What a scary happening - so glad you and Mrs. BH, and all the others, were there to help your mom. Never too much of good things.

[Jeff H]

And there are people who don't believe God watches over us.

Good news, Rick. Glad all is well.

[Confederate Yankee]

I'm inclined to agree with Jeff H.

To me, this goes beyond luck; this played out the way it did because "someone" *looks up* wanted it too.

I'm glad everyone is okay.

[chuckels]

Like my by-line over at DPS, "Conicidence is when God works a miracle and decides to remain anonymous!"

However...this time He has been found out!

God Bless,

chuckels

So relieved for your family. God bless Mrs. BH!

LF