So, about Thanksgiving. We had a great time with my in-laws’ family in the greater Worcester area, with lots of great food and too many laughs to count. However, the morning leading up to the big event was a little chaotic.
It started with smoke. Lots of it. Sudden, thick plumes of smoke coming from our kitchen aren’t necessarily unheard of around the holidays, but at the time they appeared, I wasn’t cooking anything at all. I was in the shower, in fact. I emerged from the bathroom to find myself engulfed in smoke of the electrical sort and to hear Husband make the casual observation that something might be burning. Might, I shrieked? Then, I pounced on the children.
Me: Kids, get your coats on.
Them: Why? Why?
Me: SMOKE! Put your coats on now.
Them: Why? I don’t want to.
Me: FIRE! Put your shoes on.
Them: Fire? Where, Mommy? I don’t want my shoes.
Me: SMOKE!! FIRE!! STOP, DROP, AND ROLL! PUT YOUR GODDAMNED COATS ON!!!
Clearly, we need to practice fire drills. I dragged them coatless and shoeless out the door, dialing 911 with my teeth, while Husband tried to locate the source of the smoke and debated with himself whether or not this situation really qualified as an emergency. Meanwhile, we arrived at our neighbor’s doorstep, me in my wet hair, granny bathrobe, kitchen clogs, and, inexplicably, one black stocking pulled up to the knee. In the reflection of the storm door, I caught a glimpse of what I’m going to look like 30 years from now, and the future’s not bright.
The entire City of Waltham fire department showed up. Six fire trucks, maybe a dozen firefighters. All of them thinking, I can only assume, that there better fucking be some kind of a fire. I tried to assess whether any of them had started eating turkey, yet. Might they be too drowsy to fight any potential fires? Are their families going to kill me? What if they’re not back in time for pie? Will they come back and set the rest of my house on fire in the night?
Anyway, it took a bit of time but they did locate the source. A component of the refrigerator had burnt itself out and melted itself down, but there was no damage to the surrounding walls. My freshly painted kitchen walls. Can you imagine how pissed I would have been? Yeah, my house is still standing, BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO PAINT THAT KITCHEN?
I can think of no one so thankful this Thanksgiving than us. Best of all, the firemen were back to the station well before pie. Thank you, Firefighters!
I think that this excerpt wins the Blog Pulitzer Prize 2008:
"In the reflection of the storm door, I caught a glimpse of what I’m going to look like 30 years from now, and the future’s not bright."
Fantastic article. It could happen to any of us!
Many thanks,
Danny
Posted by: Danny | November 28, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Oh Tammy. Haha. A morning full of insanity and still you make it funny. I am really happy for you that those walls were not damaged.
Happy (one day after) Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Melissa | November 28, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Our friend Randy is one of the firefighters who responded. He called today to see how things were (what a guy!) and said we were the 4th house they had been to that day and that it was crazy busy for them all day. Lots of smoky kitchens on Turkey Day!
A big thanks to the Waltham Fire Dept and the firefighters who helped track down the source of the smoke. It was an interesting morning to be sure!
Posted by: Husband | November 28, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Well, that was a hell of a lot more exciting than anything we had here. Just the usual casseroles with a side order of racist palaver. Ahh, families.
Posted by: Brian | November 28, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Thank God that's all it was!! Yes, you definitely need to work on those fire drills. What if it really would have been an actual fire? Good lord!
Whew! Well, one thing you can say is you live an interesting life Tammy.
Posted by: Sally | November 29, 2008 at 07:49 AM
The Today Show said that Thanksgiving has the most kitchen fires than any other day of the year. I'm glad everything turned out ok.
Posted by: Mary | November 29, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Geez tammy, We saw the trucks driving away but we had no idea they were at your house!!! So good to know everyone is ok.
Posted by: sarah | November 29, 2008 at 12:40 PM
sarah: Yes, we're very relieved.
Mary: I'm not altogether surprised. It's probably the only day when nearly everyone cooks something.
Sally: My life is actually surprisingly unexciting, but I like it that way. And, yes, we will be practicing fire drills. I think next time we'll skip the shoes and coats dialogue.
Brian: Wow, I can't believe you guys didn't top that. I was sure you would. Glad we could take one for the team.
Husband: We'll be on a first-name basis with the entire fire department at this rate.
Melissa: Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Danny: You made my day. Thanks!
Posted by: T.D. Inman | November 29, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Thank God, Not much damaged. Glad to know everythink was ok.
Jessica
Posted by: Culinary Schools | November 29, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Update: The fridge is fixed. The repair guy replaced the burnt-out part and everything is fine. Luckily the weather was cool enough that the front porch could serve as our refrigerator for a couple days.
I am thankful that I didn't have to fight the crowds at Best Buy to get a replacement!
Posted by: Husband | November 30, 2008 at 02:09 PM
So, Tammy, isn't this like visit #4 for the Waltham fire department to your doorstep? They may have your house # and photo pinned up at their station...
Glad everyone is safe and satiated on turkey.
Posted by: Ernie | November 30, 2008 at 09:38 PM
A smokey broken fridge on Thanksgiving is definitely funnier than a simply broken fridge on a Sunday afternoon in September.
Just one of the reasons why your blog is so much more fun than mine.
Posted by: Family Nutritionist | December 02, 2008 at 02:19 PM