Today was an eventful day that showed what was really valuable and precious to me. We are in a pretty bad drought and heat wave right now in Central Texas. Most of the area is in a burn ban and my neighborhood is in a Stage 4 water restrictions. This basically means outside watering one day a week, during specific times, with a water hose, no sprinkler and no watering on the weekends. It may not seem like much but when you have an acre of brown grass and gorgeous oak trees struggling to find water underground it matters a lot.
So imagine my shock and slight fear when The Boy calls out, “Mom, you gotta come see this.” and there is black smoke billowing up in the air behind my fence. A neighbor behind me, who has given the neighborhood HOA problems for many years, decided to burn trash and junk. Hoarding doesn’t even begin to describe the mess in and out of this person’s house and cars and he had just started a fire in an extreme drought and low water levels in our tanks and aquifer.
The Boy grabbed the video camera, because isn’t that what kids do these days. We are lucky he did because we were able to give it to the Fire Marshall who will try to build a case of arson against our neighbor.
I told The Boy to grab the pets and we left the house. I grabbed nothing. No shoes, clothes, bags, computers, pictures…nada, nothing, zilch. Because it’s all just stuff. I didn’t even have my wedding ring on. And it didn’t bother me. I wasn’t worried about anything in the house or the house itself, just my family.
We came home about a half hour later, when I didn’t see smoke in the air any longer. Luckily we only had minor damage on our back fence and along the fence line.
I’ll be back to posting on my stuff tomorrow. Because even though it’s “Just Stuff”, I love using it and it makes me feel good.
What would you grab if you only had a few minutes?
OMG! What's wrong with people?!?!? Holy crap! Thank goodness the only casualty was the fence. I'm sorry to hear about your drought conditions. What wacko thinks it's a good idea to burn anything in dry hot weather?????????
I remember when a neighbor's house burned down to the ground. I ran out of my house, freaking out because I was so worried about the lives that belonged to the house. Fortunately they were all gone, but the house was completely destroyed. People from over a mile away could see the smoke rising in the air and neighbors from many streets over came to make sure everything was alright.
In other words, I am so glad that everything is alright for you. HOW SCARY. And bad juju on that neighbor! How dare he! CRAZY!
Take some time, if need be…it took me about a week to get over the devastation, I cried and cried for the folks who had lost their home. Fire is insanely scary!
I feel for you! We live a couple hours south of San Antonio (Rio Grande Valley) and have been watching the nightly Texas news about how bad it is. We're not at the levels you all are but it's getting worse. Thank-goodness it was only a fence! And on the bright side, you now a a burn line that will protect that side of your house! Do you think we could get the blog world to do a collective rain dance for Texas?
He has lost his mind in the heat! You were smart to get to a safe place. I'm glad you and your son (and stuff) are well 🙂
Glad everyone is safe. i would grab my hubs, the cats, my purse and the lock box with all the important papers in it.Everything else can be replaced!
Wow, I can't believe the neighbor would be burning given the severe drought conditions. I am so glad you are all OK and didn't lose any property. Of course family and pets are most important and it is just stuff but it takes a lot to replace it too. I have friends in Houston and Corpus Christi and we have all been praying for rain. I hope it comes soon.
I can't believe what idiots people can be. That is so scary and I'm glad there wasn't much damage to your place. I hope that moron sees some consequences.
Thanks everyone for your comments. I really appreciate them.
Unfortunately, the comments about him being crazy and a wacko are very close to the truth. I think this man is sick and should be in a hospital somewhere. He went from being an eccentric professor at an area university to a crazy loon. The issues he's had with his house/yard/cars before have landed him in jail. He just does the jail time and the cycle starts all over. It's almost comical.
We also have a crazy lady in the neighborhood but she's just territorial. You know the one who yells at every kid to get off her lawn.
Good grief! What a moron. Property destruction is pretty scary. Two 50-ton oak trees crashed through our former house a few years ago during a tornado. 5 feet from where we were sleeping. But a least a human being wasn't at fault! Geez.
I'd grab my kids, hubby, and a box I keep with special things my mom gave me before she died.
i'm so glad you guys are OK!
and yes, i agree that all this is "just stuff". if there was a fire, i would make sure my family was safe, and not worry about everything else. life is too precious to care about anything else!
kimchi girl
I've never commented before, but I read your blog almost daily. Just wanted to say that I am glad you and your family are safe.
Holy cow! I can't believe he'd burn trash. Genius. In a drought. What the….?!?. So glad you're all safe, and the damage was kept to the backyard only. Smart of your boy to grab that camera! This drought has me so depressed. Our baby lawn we just put in 2 months ago… it's struggling. Makes me so mad!! Wishing you well!