Dear readers of Bryanspeak, I have been absent since mid-October. In case you are unaware, we had a catastrophic fire at our home on October 27th at 4:15 a.m. We have been in recovery mode ever since. Many of you who know and love Bryan have been concerned about his well-being and processing of this traumatic event.

Bryan was visiting with us that fateful night, celebrating his dad’s birthday with the rest of our family. The evening started with appetizers around the chiminea on our deck as the evening was cool. After checking that the fire was out at 6:00 and 9:00 p.m., we all went to bed, Bryan staying overnight so that he could go to church with us the next morning. I was woken abruptly at 4:15 a.m. by the smoke alarms. After waking my husband, Ed, and Bryan whose room was down the hallway, I went to find my glasses as they ran outside to safety with only their pajama bottoms on. Neighbors sprang into action immediately, calling 911 and clothing us in the chilly morning air. Bryan went next door and watched as the firetruck pulled into the neighbor’s driveway to douse the flames coming from his bedroom. He drank bottled water and ate some scrambled eggs and toast which was offered. I had no appetite.

As the fire marshal later stated, “You had only two minutes to escape. You are lucky to be alive.” That is our takeaway. An ember must have bounced off of the concrete pavers under the chiminea and into the mulch below, the marshal concluded. It smoldered for hours, finally igniting the very dry mulch and traveling to the gas grill, exploding the two propane tanks and spraying fuel all over the back of the house.

Bryan’s roommate arrived around 10 a.m. that morning of the fire to take him back to his apartment where most of his belongings were still housed. He has not been back since. Bryan does not need to see his house in its current empty-shell-state.

His immediate concern was to recover all of his personal items lost in the fire – I-pad, Air pods, I-phone, clothing, shoes, books, etc. The texts flowed with him recounting what he lost in the fire. We made a long list. Some of that we have ordered for him which made him quite happy. Ironically, his wallet was recovered by the firemen who came the next day to place ladders up to the second floor to see if anything was recoverable. His Apple air tag was still giving off a signal and the wallet found, thus preserving Bryan’s valuable ID, credit card and medical cards. We were not as fortunate.

Another unfortunate situation arose that following week post-fire. Bryan’s roommate tested positive for Covid. He was quite careful to stay away from Bryan for the duration and Bryan remained unscathed. Church friends provided meals for the guys that week and Bryan finally returned to his job at Ann’s Choice. Normalcy was beginning to return.

Once he had obtained those items most valuable to him, he switched gears out of concern for us. I have received so many texts and phone calls from him, as he suggested the things he felt we needed to make our temporary home more like our former home. Things like : a welcome mat, wreaths for the door, kitchen gadgets, bedroom items, all manner of Christmas decorations…the list is endless.

Of course, he wanted us to send pictures of our new place as soon as we could so that he could visualize what we might need and send us his suggestions to make this house a home. He was excited to see his new bedroom where he will stay when he sleeps over.

He’s been over several times now to visit his new temporary home. Each time he thinks of more things we used to have in the old house which we need in the new. Having him help decorate the house and the tree are healing for him. And he wanted to make his treats for those he works with and who are special to him. A delicious batch of Sugar Cookie Fudge was made a few weeks ago as we have traditionally done. He is in the midst of distributing those goodie bags near and far.

Thanksgiving was a healing time reconnecting with Grandma, Uncle Brad, Aunt Laura, Uncle Dick, Aunt Barbara, David , Sis, Kevin and his nephews. As we keep the old comfortable traditions, new ones will be forged in a new place, creating memories of togetherness which will help Bryan on the road to complete healing and recovery. It may be a long road, but we will all travel it together, thankful that we are alive to do so.