Dear Reader Column 09-28-10

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Dear Reader,

This may be brief this morning and it may be a bit jumbled. I think I am still in a bit of shock. Yesterday morning my daughter-in-law called early in the morning, "Oh my god, the house is on fire and it's engulfed in flames." My son, daughter-in-law and grandsons, Paul and James got out of the house safely. But Frank and Maggie, two of their cats, perished in the fire and the fish in the large aquarium (each one named by my grandchildren), also died. The family's third cat will come home (in good health) from the emergency veterinarian this afternoon.

I could write about the terror and horror and sadness of such a thing, but that's not where I want my mind to be right now. I'm not ignoring the sadness and grief in our hearts, but at the moment I'm choosing to soldier on. In the midst of every tragedy in my life there are stories of love, and those are the stories I'm telling myself right now.

Tragedy brings out the worst in some folks, but in my son and daughter-in-law's neighborhood yesterday there was love. A fireman whose eyes were filled with tears when he handed me one of the cats he couldn't save in the smoldering house. A dad raising three young daughters who took my grandchildren in, a neighbor I'd never met before, and who knew I needed a hug and held on tight when I cried.

Bits and pieces of stories to be told, but the tears won't let me go any farther today. A fire, great loss, horror and sadness, yet there is love.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is TEVYE THE DAIRYMAN AND MOTL THE CANTOR'S SON by Sholem Aleichem. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/September10Classics

Comments

[Frances W.]

I'm so sorry for everything. Your online friends also love you and send our love to you and your family. We feel like we know you and yours because of your friendly posts. We know Paul and your other grandchildren. Please know we are praying for you and your family.

[Janet Halo]

Suzanne
I am sure I am speaking for all of your readers when I say our hearts are breaking for your family. We are thankful that the people in your life are safe, but sorry for the losses suffered by your son and his family. For those of us not in Florida, if we can help from afar, please don't hesitate to ask.