Monday Night. February 10. 11:30pm
I'll probably never forget that date.
That's when I made the 911 call.
15 minutes earlier I heard glass break. I was asleep in my bedroom. I thought someone was breaking in. I grabbed my phone and let my German Shepherd Gus out to "attack". I saw smoke. And flames.
It's all kinda a blur. I remember trying to get my dogs out the back door with no success. I remember thinking for just a split second that maybe I could do something. Maybe I could put it out. Then I remember just grabbing them and going out the front door.
It was raining. And cold. 32 degrees or so. I was wearing boxer shorts, a t-shirt, and I was barefoot.
I called 911. Trying my best not to let my phone get wet and trying to not let go of my dogs.
I then called 2 neighbors. No answers. Not their fault. It was late. I finally got Greg.
JPD just looked at me. Cold, crying me. But they didn't talk to me or help me. Probably because of the 90lb German Shepherd.
I cried. It was weird because I remember physcially feeling myself crying. It was kinda out of body though. I remember seeing myself crying but I don't remember feeling the sadness that I would typically tie to crying. It was a screaming cry. A fully invested, exhausting cry.
Greg called Hayley. And Hayley showed up in seconds. She held onto my dogs.
Finally the fire chief showed up and yelled at the guys to get me and my dogs into a truck. Greg showed up shortly after.
Everyone needs friends like Greg and Hayley. Hayley provided the laughter. Greg immediately got to work on the practical stuff. He called my insurance company. He was my secretary and mediator for the first 12 hours. And my home for the first 48.
Next day. After Waffle House we got the house boarded up. Got my rental car towed.
Greg called Chris Mokry and Chris walked through the house with me and explained what I needed to expect from the adjuster. That was unbelievably helpful.
I went for a run. I took a shower. I let Lauren Ellis blow dry my hair.
I met Mokry at Fondren Public and we read through my home owners insurance policy. Drank plenty of alcohol. We to Greg's and went to bed.
That was the first 24 hours.
