Lessons learned #2 (part 2 of 3): Don't lose your sh*t

First vignette: When the sun came up, the smoke had cleared, and we were finally allowed back into the house, we began to assess the extent of the damage. Half of the house was reduced to charred studs and ash. This included the kitchen, living room, family room, and office. The garage was one of the areas that suffered intense smoke and heat damage, but did not actually burn. Two of our cars were in the garage and we found the cars in tact, but massively covered in soot. Our keys were, of course, in the kitchen and what we found (and could identify) was fairly melted. The metal key parts were still usable but the FOB/transponders (I think the technical term is "clicky things") part of the keys were hanging on by a (melted plastic) thread. We were able to start the cars and move them over to our neighbors driveway. The firefighters advised against driving them further since the heat and smoke had likely compromised the on-board computer systems, hoses, tires, etc. The key remnants were put on the shelf in Mo and Ronnie's kitchen - we'd save the auto claim for another day.

Second vignette: On our cul de sac there is exactly one rental property, just diagonal from our property - and it happened to be vacant. So over the next few days, while our heads were still spinning, our neighbors negotiated with the remote landlord on our behalf. He was not excited to rent to us with our two big dogs, and he did not want to sign a 6 month lease - but our neighbors were persistant and in the end, things worked out and just a week after our fire, we were handed the keys to a home right across the street from our own. I joke that it's from the brady bunch era and probably hasn't seen an update since 1970, but as long as Jacko doesn't start calling me "Alice", for now it is going to be our home and we are thankful to have it. The move in date was 2 days away (while insurance worked out the finer details with the landlord) so in the meantime we put the keys - where else? - on the shelf in Mo and Ron's kitchen, alongside our melted fobs.

Moving day came. Kind friends showed up to help us haul our hefty bags across the cul de sac. Other dear friends showed up with trucks to make runs to the homes of still more generous friends who had offered us beds and other furniture. Mo and Ronnie's was our central command post and we ran the operation with precision. This was no time for tears, we had to put a home together in just a few hours. We were on a roll.

Aside: Staying organized when you've lost your home and temporarily lost your senses is challenging. It's even worse when you have things being hurled at you at record speed. Utility stuff and insurance stuff and donations and, oh yeah, did I mention that we're right in the middle of Aly's college app process and have important deadlines to meet?

So at last we were ready for the final run across the street to our new rental home. Since our new filing system consists of baggies and plastic bins, we wisely moved the key remnants and house keys from the shelf in Mo's kitchen into a baggywhich we dubbed "the baggy of many important things". The baggy got stuffed into one of the duffle bags or bins heading across the street to our new home.

And that was the last we saw of the b.o.m.i.t. Somehow in the shuffle, that all important baggy vanished.

This was not good. For the Saab, we learned, it would mean $1700 to replace the car's entire locking mechanism. In general, losing all of our keys would be a huge hassle on top of the mountain of hassles that we were already facing.

Vignette #3: We cannot tell you how many times in the past we have harped on the kids for not putting car keys on the key rack in the kitchen. Of course it's frustrating when one car is blocking the car you need, and you can't find the keys to move it. It's happened more than once, hence the repeated harping. Fortunately for us, our kids did not feel the need to heed our harping because they are teenagers and we are stupid. Within a few days (during which we were sweating it out) both kids found spare keys in their smoky-but-not-burned bedrooms. Thanks for not listening to us, kiddos. No, seriously.

We've still not had the guts to tell the landlord that within just a few days, we managed to lose both house keys. We'll save that for another day.

Lesson learned: Don't lose your sh*t.