My dad is doing fine. The full effect of the fire is starting to set in now. We went back to the apartment yesterday morning. They weren't letting anyone back into the building - probably never will. The top floor where he lived is pretty much gone. The firemen went up to see if they could retrieve his heart pills and glasses for him but returned empty handed just shaking their heads. Although my dad wants to go back to look at his suite the reality is he probably will never be able to set foot inside his apartment again.
We started down the path of recovery and rebuilding immediately. He was able to get his car out of the underground parking unscathed. We washed it immediately and its fine... not even smoke smell there.
We went to his doctor and got a prescription for his meds, made an optomistrist appointment for new glasses today, bought him some clothes, changed his address, got a new phone charger for his cell, and a bunch of other small things. Dad was tired after a restless night reliving the experience of escaping the fire. We talked it over many times through the day.
My dad is a bit shocked by the whole thing, the one safe place for him, his home is now gone. When we went back yesterday he was more concerned for the 'old folks' who live there and lost everything. My dad is 77.
Everywhere we went yesterday my dad told of his exciting ordeal, and its a story he will thrill with telling for the rest of his life I'm sure. He's just so glad he and everyone else got out safely.
My dad is now making funny jokes again too and enjoys when we share his story with others, only adding at the end that there is a ray of sunshine to the ordeal... his ELVIS suit was lost in the flames... much to the family's delight!
My older brother arrives this afternoon to help out with the search for a new apartment.
We begin shopping in earnest today for the things he'll need to start over. We, his kids are delighted to indulge him in a good sized flat screen TV as a start... something he would never get for himself but will enjoy immensely. We joked with him that it will be light enough to grab on the way out the next time his place burns...
Putting the pieces back together in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Dan its great that older persons would rather live in the tall cities where it adds to the enjoyment of their life and age rather then be cooped up in the country with only animals for company.
Please do what you can and give him some of your artwork as well Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
Thanks for the update Dan. It is comforting to here your dad is in good hands. Ya gotta picture of that Elvis suit?
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
What a great spirit! With family around him I'm sure he is going to be fine. The nights will probably be sad for awhile as he relives the memories of things lost....even the Elvis suit.
When I'm 77 I hope that I can have that same kind of attitude.
Posted by William Holohan (Member # 2514) on :
Dan, Make him really happy. Go up on eBay and buy him an Elvis suit....:-)
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Thanks for the update Dan, I've been thinking about this and how it may be effecting you guys. I'm sure that the pain will ease, and he will look at this as a new beginning.
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Oh my hell, how amazingly incredible !!! Dan, loads of moral support here pal, you're doing the right thing, sure glad to hear rest of families pitching in to assist...
(bit of advice from one who knows? whoever he's staying with? don't make strange, loud noises at night while he's sleeping, awakening is the worst time for him, trust me on this one, don't let his awakenings be from something foreign and loud, the longer he wakes up w/o incident, the sooner he'll start healing-the other way can be hell-believe you me) Posted by Bill Dirkes (Member # 1000) on :
Good to hear your Dad is adjusting so well. I always thought you approached life as an adventure. I can see where that attitude comes from! Take care.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Dan, your Dad sounds like quite the character. Anyone who has the guts to wear an Elvis suit can survive a devastating fire. I hope he'll be OK. He's been through quite an ordeal, but it appears that he's holding up well. I think I'd even buy him a new suit. Just don't let him sing "Burning Love"! Love....Jill
Posted by Shawn Setzer (Member # 426) on :
Dan,
I am so very glad that we're all able to give you encouragement on all of this and not condolences, always appreciate what you have, you never know how long you'll have it...I'm very happy for you and your family that you get to be able to show your dad how much you love him all over again.
Take care,
Shawn
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Yesterday was a wonderful day. My older brother came over from Vancouver Island and spent the day with us. My dad was in his glory as we took him through town and went on a shopping spree (on us of course) buying him the new stuff he needs. Where he has always had to be too concious of the price tags in the past, we encouraged him to get what he WANTED this time around. He now has a new wardrobe, a very good new bed, even the good sized LCD TV of his dreams.
Other family members phoned with good wishes and promises of other wonderful gifts. Two of his sisters dropped by to give him a personal hug and one brought by a wonderful home made lemon merangue pie. We had a great visit all evening.
Dad is talking freely of the fire, how it will change his life for the better. He's had a tough life at times and this event will be the page turner, separating him from the past. I sincerely believe he will come out of the fire in much better shape both mentally and physically than he went in.
This Friday night his siblings are throwing a party for him where they will shower him with things he needs for his new home. He is genuinely excited about everything that is happening.
He fully understands just how much we all care and love him.
I have no doubt he will wear an Elvis suit once more and soon!
Life is good.
-grampa dan
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I had to remotely access the office computer to strip out some text & post the graphics from a 4' x 6' banner i made last year. It seemed like strangely relevant:
[ February 07, 2007, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Posted by Mike StGeorge (Member # 4183) on :
Dan, Iam glad to hear your Dad is making it back on his feet OK.
Posted by Mike StGeorge (Member # 4183) on :
Dan, Iam glad to hear your Dad is making out Ok. Its never good to see people devastated after a fire from a Fire Fighters point of view, and trust me we remember them all. Good luck to you and your Dad hope everything continues Ok.
Mike
Posted by Barb. Shortreed (Member # 1730) on :
Dan...it's always a shame when we see bad things happening to good people, but it so nice to hear how your Dad is turning his scars into stars
sounds like he has a great attitude Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Yesterday when we were at the apartment waiting to talk with the building manager we couldn't help but overhear another conversation between her and another distraught tenant. Like my dad the fellow didn't have insurance for his contents and had lost everything.
Instead of dealing with things as best he could this fellow as ANGRY. He was yelling at high volume at the poor manager, threatening all kinds of lawsuits naming everyone he possibly could for things not even possible for them to control. He had the poor lady reduced to tears in an instant. From his conversation I quickly understood that the fellow had spent the last couple of days making a LOT of people miserable.
When he was finally done and had left we approached the distraught manager, gave her a hug and offered to to what we could to help her. We assured her that dad was fine, comforatble and we were putting things back together once again. Dad asked if it were possible that he wanted to come back into one of the apartments whe managed but that there was no hurry as he was pretty sure she had plenty to deal with.
As we drove away my heart went out the the fellow who was so bitter and hurt by this event. While my dad had suffered the same initial loss, he was already well on the road to recovery. The other guy obviously had let the incident get the better of him. He was spending his time at the fire department, municipal office, and whoever else he could possibly blame for his tragedy. With his fierce intent to sue everyone in sight he would be reliving the horrible event for months and more likely years to come.
Life is too short and too wonderful to be unhappy for any reason I can think of. Lets celebrate the good things, like everyone making it out of the really bad fire safe and sound. Then lets turn the page and move on.
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