Here’s A Quick Way To Discover What’s Important To You (and me)
April 18, 2008
First There Was FIRE!
Last Tuesday night I got the telephone call on the reverse 911 system. Mandatory evacuation. Fire down the road. High Winds. Leave the house.
Now.
It turned out that 800 families got the call, and we were not in immediate danger, but I didn’t know it at the time.
In my car went my child, 2 dogs, (100 lbs each) my cat, (hard to catch in an emergency, so I’m so very grateful she happened to be sleeping in her cat bed at the time), my laptop, my tower from my desktop, and the family passports - in case we had to take an extended vaction. My husband grabbed his camera case.
Hubby and I took a look around the house and shrugged. What else was needed? Everything.
Twenty seven years in the same home. Our lives together. A lifetime of stuff. Photos, family heirlooms, artwork, clothing, Jewelry.
Memories.
What else should we take?
Nothing.
As we drove down our road, smelling smoke, we had no idea what the next few days would bring. We spent the night huddled up in a twin bed being grateful for the safety of our family and pets.
The next morning I gladly went about my day. Hubby went to work, Child went to school, and I taught class with CK on being fully committed to life.
As I said in class that day. I may be evacuated, but I have no control over the fire, my home, or what happens next, so I’m living my life as I always do. Going about my day. Doing my best to stay in the moment. Trying to stay centered. Calm and in the Now.
A beautiful spring snow arrived allowing the firefighters to get the fire under control and the next day we were allowed to return home. And I was (and am) so very grateful that everyone is safe.
I’ve since updated my evacuation list of things I’d take:
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Homeopathy
- Essential Oils
- Artwork
- Charger cord for cell phone
- A few office supplies like phone book. paper and pen.
Then, Surprise! A Rock and My Car Window!
What the Heck?
So, Thursday morning, feeling like ‘I deserve a break today’, I’m driving along with Child and Friend along a mountain pass to go visit Antero hot springs. Nothing much is happening and I’m still in awe of the power of fire and life and feeling free when …………..
…………....WHAM
A boulder flew off the mountain and shattered my passenger van sliding door. Right next to my four year old girl sitting in her car seat.
Shattered glass, Big Hole. Moutain Highway. Little Girl.
Not good.
I pulled off the road and called my insurance, three car glass replacement places and my husband. No one could really help. We were miles from home, in a roadside pullout. with broken glass in the car and in the window.
So…… We smashed out the rest of the glass (I had a towel since we were headed to the hot springs) and continued on our way.
Thank you… Walmart?!!
The first store we came to was a Walmart and I pulled into the back where they do oil changes. Three guys came out, vaccuumed my car, cleaned up the remaining glass and taped up a cardboard box over the hole.
For Free.
Thank you Woodland Park Walmart guys.
(I sent cookies later).
It took me about an hour to recover from the weirdness of it all, and again, I am so grateful that my child was safe and glass free.
I’ve got two questions for you:
1. What do you make of this weird energy I’m in?
2. What would you take with you if you had to evacuate in a hurry? Does that tell you what is important in your life? (Ok 3 questions)
All comments welcomed.
UPDATE:
They say things come in three’s and this site went down today….. Something to do with Wordpress 2.5 or a plugin. not sure which but my day was crazy. WEIRD and I’m glad it is over.
I’m sorry if I lost your comment, or if you are re-reading a post..
Thank you all for just being you.
Written by Michelle Vandepas - Michelle is a writer, speaker, facilitator and radio talk show host. Contact Michelle directly using the contact page above, or leave a comment below.
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It really depends how much time I had.
I could just walk out.
Then clothes and toiletries.
Then my journals.
Then my computer.
Then my books.
That’s about it.
Wow, Michelle, I’m so sorry all that happened to you. It really does put things into perspective. And I thought turning 55 put my life into a new perspective (I guess it does, but not in the same way).
It kind of reminds me of when they tell you on the plane if you have to evacuate leave all your personal belongings behind. If this happened to me at home I’d only want to be sure my partner and my cats were with me.
Ok, maybe I’d try to grab one of my backup harddrives….
I got that reverse 911 call also. But I have moved into the city, so fire trucks are less than 5 minutes away. I did call you, Michelle, to offer beds and a space for family and dogs. I was ready to leash the dogs up and walk them for several miles just to help them quiet down….what else can I do when my friend’s home is threatened?
Our community was fortunate. (I gues I feel part of the canyon still, even though I am in town.) We lost one fire fighter in this go around.
My sister and her family lost 25% of their avacado orchard in the big southern California fire not too long ago. They had three of their neighbors loose their homes. I recently talked with her; they now have to reduce their water usage by 30%. They have 100 trees left and they have to stump a third of them. Life is changing for many of us in many places.
For the boulder than smacked your car; I would say your angels are looking out for you. No cuts, abrasions; just a hassel to get repared. Whew!!! Yes, energetically, it can get pretty crazy out there. And like you say, you keep coming back to what is happening now and breathe.
Evacuation? Cats in carriers, pc tower, 1 notebook (my blogging notes, passwords), laptop, shoes, clothes, cell phone with charger, drivers license & credit cards, passport if handy, ski boots if I have time. The rest can stay.
Hope that things have settled down for you now - glad that no one was hurt.
Everything I own is in my van anyways, which used to cause me severe van seperation anxiety. Then I had a dream that the van was on fire, and I just grabbed my laptop and me and my dog jumped out. In the dream I stood there all stressed out trying to figure out what else to grab and then I realized I didn’t really need any of it. So, me, my dog, the laptop.
I think you should check to make sure you’re polarised… but other then that, eh, stuff like that happens to me all the time.
Yeah for Glass!!!! It did break the fall after all. I’m really glad you both are okay physically, but maybe a little shaken up and hypervigilent around flying objects. Be watchful for meterites, space stations, goose poop, or anything that might come flying out of the sky. You never know what the universe wants to give you. What would I take if this happened to me? My first reaction would be to take my cats and my purse. If I really thought about it though, I would want to have included my appointment book, back up drive, passport, cell phone charger is a good one (thanks michelle) cell phone cause having the charger and forgetting the cell phone would just be painful and my car. I wonder what the third thing will be that strikes you? Does it have to be bad? How about a winning lottery ticket instead?
Michelle:
What a riveting story. I felt like I was there with you physically, emotionally and spiritually.
We all have had days like that when one thing after the other piles on. Being evacuated forcibly definitely puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? I’d love to be able to say I wouldn’t “need anything” but like most people, I’m attached to my computer so I would take the hard drive. Maybe a couple pieces of clothing and my video camera. The rest could stay behind if things got really antsy.
I agree with Susan Blue that the angels were looking out for your daughter when the rock came through the passenger side window. What a surprise that must have been. It reminds me of the one time I was driving on the freeway when a small pebble hit the windshield, cracking it. Fortunately my insurance company contacted a glass place (sometimes they do come forward like they’re supposed to!) to have the entire windshield replaced in a snap.
I am grateful that you, your daughter and your entire family plus the house were unharmed. Thanks for sharing.
Michelle,
I guess you have had a busy week. When my first and only reverse 911 call came through last summer for the Manitou Springs Tornado warning, I took my cell phone and my futon into the little cement room under my house. I remember sitting under the futon being grateful for my body and my health. And I remember very clearly the thought: None of it matters. When you were making your list of things to get if they let you, I told you that I would get my photos. But I didn’t even do that–I ran back inside and took what I would need to make it easy to live my passion–the client files and my calendar. What is this weird energy about? What’s important to you? Choose. I know that yoga is important to you. And I know that your family is important to you. And I know that living your passion and taking your next step is important to you. This goes back to my suggestion of putting yourself on the calendar first. What wild and insanely selfish thing do you want to do today?
While I haven’t known you a real long time, we have been vulnerable with each other and we have shared what some people never do (a business …argh argh). I am just saying…I love you! I am grateful for you in my life and you make a difference to me.
As time goes on I think of more things I’d take with me, - but it is interesting that in the moment of decision, none of it mattered. I left and didn’t look back.. Of course I had my laptop… so I was set to work.
@Evan - The journals are a great idea!
@Cheryl - Thanks for the backup reminder.
@Susan - I realized I am very much a cup 1/2 full person. I just kept saying how luckily we were to not be hurt, that it could have been much worse. You are right my angels were there.
@JoLynnn- Ski boots!
@Tara-What the heck do you man by polarized? I’m always trying to get of a combative state into neutral…?
@Robin - I ‘almost’ bought a lottery ticket yesterday. I will today, and I’ll watch for that goose poop!.. BTW this website went down. I hope that WAS the 3rd thing and life is back to the new normal. New normal being life with war, turbulence, high gas prices and earthquakes in Illinois.
@Stephen - The glass should be replaced on Monday. In the meantime ‘m driving around with cardboard on my car. I don’t have many vanity issues around my car.
@CK - I was going to skip yoga today. AUCK. I’ve gotta go now to catch class. If I’m late to meet you you’ll know why. Love Ya.
Wow! What an eventful week! Thanks for the good tips on what to take when you need to move quickly. And it makes one also think what is needed when driving,in case of an emergency. Perhaps a cell phone charger that plugs into the car might be the best.
Oh my, all this happening, and it seems strange that I didn’t have any idea. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the website when I was accessing it, and we haven’t had any reports about fires in Colorado, and so I’m very pleased to hear that everyone is safe.
In situations like this I believe it’s best to just breath easy and relish what we have, rather than deconstruct the situation for the whys and wherefors. You obviously believed that everyone and everything would be safe, and of course that is how it worked out.
I don’t own, and don’t really want a mobile ‘phone and so I wouldn’t need a charger:)
Don’t forget to tap on all the trauma, it will have left emotional residue.
Michelle, after a week like this, don’t worry about the lost comments that you emailed me about. Maybe only you and CK were the only ones meant to read them. When big things like that happen to me the messages always seems to be to pay attention and my life to the fullest because we really never know what the next second can bring into our lives. Remember who and what is important. Let the rest go. Take a deep breath and slow down. Running just gets us further behind and we miss so much trying to catch up. Have a glorious day.
Patricia
Hi Michelle,
I’m really surprise to hear this from you. Thank god that it’s over now.
If I have to evacuate in hurry, I’ll grab my passport, important documents (in a file), my backup hard drive, wallet, money, credit card and run!
Well, that’s what I think when I am calm. I doubt that I’ll think of all these when I’m panic!
I have always thinking of create an evacuation list (just in case). However, I don’t do that because I believe that doing so might unconsciously attract the negative events to me.
What do you think? Do you think I should create one (list). Feel free to share your opinion with me.
Wow! What a week Michelle!
And certainly some ‘perspective’ moments in there.
If I had to evacuate in a hurry I would expect that I’d forget any carefully laid plans ad grab whatever my eye fell on. Then I’d be looking at it afterwards and wondering what I was thinking.
Michelle,
I’m glad everyone was alright when the boulder hit your car. It’s scary having glass flying at your child. I’m also glad to hear your house was spared.
Everything I would take is packed each spring into a suit case and two water-tight plastic boxes, except the bottled water, computers, game system and chargers. We live in a hurricane zone and know we have to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice:
Important papers: birth certificates, marriage license, mortgage papers, homeowners’ insurance policy, etc. in a huge ziplock bag
clothing for 5 days
toiletries (including toilet paper and paper towels)
non-perishable food for 5 days
a bowl, spoon and fork for each person
Swiss Army knife w/can opener on it
can opener
bottled water for 5 days or more
dog food
guinea pig food
son’s hand-held gaming system and games
chargers for all portable devices
laptop
desktop tower
external backup hard drive
photos
journals
flashlights
batteries
If I have time and room:
camp coffee maker and coffee
camp stove
propane bottle
lanterns (battery powered)
Anything we don’t use regularly is packed in plastic containers ready to be grabbed, like the important papers, journals and photos.
I unpack after hurricane season ends each fall.
Sherri
Hi Michelle and CK,
You’ve been tagged!
Please check my blog to learn the rules and answer the questions - I would really love to read your answers.
@Heather (MUM!) HA! If my car charger had actually worked I’d be happier!
@Carol TAP TAP TAP TAP
@ Patricia. I wish I would have read your comment yesterday. It was another intense day and three in one week was a bit much. I ended the day in tears - just to release… so, you’d think I’d know this but thanks for the reminder. BREATHE BREATHE..
@Raymond. I’m a reality person.. and a prepare person - “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst” You present a great point, .. the piece I wonder about is if we are all part of the collective consciousness, we also act out and live realities that others are bringing in, and therefore are not solely and individually responsible for our reality. There’s a whole post here perhaps……
@Karen - yes, exactly, “What on earth was I thinking?!”
@Cheryl. The funny one of us is on this..(CK…? Are you there?)
Life just keeps coming at you; and sometimes, the energy you carry inside has nothing to do with what comes at you; particles of energy sometimes gets lost in the static surrounding us…and unfortunately combustion became their only means of escape.
That Tuesday I was driving Interstate 25 when I saw the flashing sign: ‘Highway 115 Closed Wildfire’. I got on my cell and called to see if you were alright. No answer. I got home and called your cell and your home again. No answer. Then about 10 minutes later you, Bob and K showed up at my doorstep with my favorite three furry canine friends, Aspen, Zeb, Ani…and of course Willow your cat. Along with my Pieper (canine), Aphridite and Ami (cats) we were a motley crew.
‘The Dog Whisperer’ would have been very proud of us. We all remained ‘calm and assertive’. All the animals were great. The only hair raising part was when Zeb (your 13 year old Lab/Shepard mix) didn’t make it into the house and we had to search a couple of blocks) and found him roaming the area. Bless his heart.
By the way, it was a full size bed…with three of you in it I’m sure it seemed more like a twin. I slept with Ani (lab/golden mix) in the bed with me. Zeb on one side. Aspen at the foot…not sure where Pieper ended up; and Ami my cat in the chair next to my bed.
Michelle, what a miracle: Everyone and your home is safe. Bless the firefighter that lost his life helping to make it so.
I’m blessed to have you and your family in my life…honored to have been chosen to help you in your time of need.
@ Hurricane Katrina. You’ve obviously got this down and know exactly how to evacuate. Thanks for the great tips.. And I wish you a safe hurricane season.. Were you evacuated from Katrina?
My wife and the cat are the first priorities. If there’s time, then I’ll grab the safe. If there’s more time, I’ll grab my backup hard drive (the computer would be nice to have, but the backups are what is important since I could then rebuild everything.)
On the way out the door, I’d grab as much food and water as I could carry.
Wow, what a week for you!
We evacuated when Rita was threatening to hit Houston, along with a couple million other people in the Gulf area.
I think all we took was the kids, my computer, a few clothes, the baby books and some photo albums.
We had an 15 hour drive to San Antonio, which normally takes 3. It was one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever been in. Traffic backed up for miles, people camping out by the road. It reminded me of the migration scenes in the Grapes of Wrath.
I have pictures of it online here.
http://kingwoodconnection.com/k/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=115&catid=8
@Blaine. Food and water. Good plan. In times of stress I don’t want to be shopping.
@Carla, Woaw…Yes, surreal.Thanks for contributing