Fire In The Neighborhood

Something funny happened, just a few minutes ago. Not funny haha, funny as in made me think. Living near the fire station means hearing the trucks go by all the time. As I sat watching the soaps, General Hospital to be specific, there was one truck that went by. Then two, and three, it must be a busy day I thought to myself. 

Finally something told me to look out my window. I don't know what, can't explain it but there was something saying to see what was going on outside. A shocking scene awaited me, it seemed as if the entire Royal Oak fire department was outside of my house. My neighbors house was on fire, and the smoke filled my lungs, even though I was inside. It was like a scene from a movie, or TV show. 

It hit me how desensitized I, and on a larger scale we are. In the days past, there is no way fire truck after fire truck would have been allowed to pass by a house without someone commenting on it. Yet thats exactly what happened today, and isn't it funny that instead of describing the scene as unreal, the analogy of Hollywood entertainment was used instead. 

Smoke billowed from the house, one lady was brought out and put into the waiting ambulance. It started me thinking about how I had not reacted. Surely there were signs that something was amiss and yet I was concentrating on my writing, not only my site but also playing on Facebook and what not. Would that have happened in my parents generation? My grandparents? Probably not.They knew and were close, or at least talked to their neighbors, and yet I have lived here for a year and not once had a lengthy discussion with anyone around me.

Am I alone in this? There is very little doubt in my mind that I'm not and that too is sad, Sure Facebook is suppose to unite people from all around and yet we don't speak to our neighbors, how does that help unite us? There used to be a sense of community but that only appears now, if the drama is brought to the street.

As for the house fire, the building is still standing and every one that lives inside is ok as far as I have been told. The house, or at least the back of it will be uninhabitable for a while alas. The sorrow I feel for the family, the people who live there feels a bit hollow seeing as we have only exchanged hello once or twice in the year and a half that we've lived near one another. After this wake up call, I will attempt to change my ways and I urge all of you to do the same.