Gas Attack

Resolved: I will get up at six am. each morning, get dressed immediately, and get going with my many responsibilities. No more lingering in pyjamas...On task asap!

Day Two of my new resolution: 6:30 am...I go into the dining room to get some dishes for breakfast...

John, John, What is that shaking and buzzing?

I can't hear anything?

Come into the dining room.

Oh, man! and out the back door he goes...It's the natural gas....

Do you smell anything?

Yes.

Hello...Chattanooga Gas? We have a gas leak....

We will be there within half an hour to an hour....

Great! An hour in which we can blow up!

John:....No, no...It's outside. It won't hurt us...And he goes into the bathroom to shave....

Me: Andrew, wake up...We are going outside....Dad might be willing to blow, up, but I am not....After all, he might be wrong...

I look around, wondering what I would save if I knew I had time to take only a few of my trinkets and treasures with me....The art, the art without a doubt - the stuff on the walls....But also, our documentation - our proof of being alive,and the right to remain alive- at least, in the States, and for now!

So I stuff that in my purse just in case....

And out Andrew and I go....We retreat to the church buildings behind us, wishing Dad well...

It is cold...We huddle in our coats, and wait...And it is indeed an hour before the repair man comes....A third-grade leak, no problem....He fixes it in just a couple of minutes.

Our house stops vibrating and we go inside....

I look at the clock and see that my new schedule is completely shot....Oh well, at least I was dressed when I had to evacuate both home and timetable!