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Published: March 10th 2009
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The sirens wailed ever louder as I continued walking my parents' dog, Nick, through the public walkway behind their new home in Arizona. As we rounded the final corner around a group of mailboxes, we both stopped dead in our tracks. Surely, my eyes betrayed me. Although only moments ago a picture of suburban tranquility, my parents' street had been turned into a scene straight out of a Schwarzenegger film. Five enormous fire trucks blocked off the street. Three ambulances were parked haphazardly on the golf course, the sidewalk and in the middle of the street. Firefighters walked purposely to and fro, like burly ants hell-bent on completing an important mission. A lone fireman stood braced against the howling wind, aiming a powerful water hose at the opening of a hole in the ground.
What was going on? Nick and I ran up to a dashing young firefighter to inquire about all of the excitement. He replied that a crew digging in the lot for sale next door to my parents' house had struck a two-inch gas line and that the firefighters had been ordered to evacuate the area. I told him that I was staying in the house next
to the severed gas line and that my grandmother was still inside. He gaped at me for a moment and then barked a command to one of his men, who did an about face and swiftly ran to the backyard. The seriousness of the situation began to sink in as I watched the firefighter literally carry my grandmother to safety.
Once all the houses in the immediate vicinity had been evacuated, the firefighting crew went to work. Residents and gawkers alike stood in small groups on the sidewalk across the street, keeping an eye on the commotion. I borrowed a cell phone from one of the idiot diggers to call my parents, who were due to return from dropping their friends off at the airport at any moment. Nick, bless his little heart, was good as gold and sat quietly at my feet, refraining from barking, howling or any other type of doggie activity.
It was at that moment that two good-looking young firefighters came over to talk to me and pet Nick. I was so distracted by telling them about Nick that I forgot all about the steaming, odorific gift from Nick that I held in a
Yoga Dog
Nick enjoys helping Dad through his yoga every day. tightly cinched plastic bag. As soon as they caught a whiff of my parcel, they hightailed it back to the firetruck. I probably shouldn't have been keeping them from the important task of preventing my parents' home from exploding, anyway.
Soon enough, my parents returned in a car laden with freezer-needy groceries. Although I'd reached them by cell phone to outline the situation, as the car slowed to a stop behind the parking lot of firetrucks, I could see their shocked expressions through the windshield. I glanced over my shoulder. The scene really was like something out of a movie. I half-expected the house to explode into a giant fireball at the director's cue.
It was at that moment that the fire captain hurried over to where we were standing and ordered us to move farther down the street. The wind had not only picked up, but also changed direction. If we remained where we were currently standing, we were in the direct path of a potential explosion. We decided to move.
Luckily, my parents had made acquaintances with another couple from Wisconsin who lived down the street and owned two boxers. They graciously invited us inside
and allowed my parents to store their perishables in available freezer and cooler space. By the time we emerged from the house again, the entire street had turned up to watch the action. Two teenage-aged sons of a neighbor from up the street were taking bets as to whether the house would explode and what the severity would be of the explosion. I assumed they did not realize the owners of that house were standing directly behind them.
After about 30 minutes, the gas company arrived to clamp off the leaking pipe. I watched in disbelief as two more enormous trucks navigated their way down the narrow street that was already clogged with firetrucks, ambulances, police cars, firefighters, onlookers, water hoses and pickup trucks. It was only after a police officer drove down the street to tell us that the pipe was secure that I could issue a sigh of relief. We were permitted to return to the house while gas company experts took readings throughout the house, the backyard, and within a 250 foot perimeter around the original site of the gas leak. Finally, we knew it would all be okay.
After the excitement of today, I think I will be happy to spend the next couple of days parked in front of my computer, watching my favorite Chinese soap opera. I don't even feel guilty about whiling away my vacation in this fashion, because it is also an excellent opportunity to maintain my Mandarin. Although, I would rather keep the explosions contained on my soap.
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Yushi
non-member comment
wow
Is your parents' house okay? I'm glad no one got hurt!