Fire on the Mountain

Today while stumbling my way through physical therapy I happen to look up at the TV and see the headline…”Breaking News…Fire in Corner Canyon.” Reading this gave me that feeling where your heart kind of starts to sink, you know, like when a pretty girl smiles and you think she is smiling and you but come to find out it’s the guy behind you.

I told Mindy that it might be best if we head home seeing as I would rather watch my house burn in person then on TV. As we drove home the smoke cloud seemed to be getting larger and lager, however it became clear as we got closer that the fire was about 3-4 miles from the house and the winds were in our favor. When we got home, we both sat on the deck watching the airplanes and helicopters fly over head all afternoon.

Today Mother Nature was on our side; however I don’t think it will always be that way. We knew the risks of building a house in the mountains. If the winds had changed directions today and the fire swept through our house, it would be devastating, but we wouldn’t be surprised. I have a hard time understanding how people who knowingly build their house in a flood plain and then wonder why their house got flushed down the river…were they really surprised? As a tax payer, should I pay for their recovery? When Mother Nature decides to take its natural course and it happens to destroy my property, you won’t find me in line looking for a handout.

This Woman’s Work

Over the past 15 weeks nothing has been easy. From drinking a glass of milk to showering, everything has been a challenge. My patience is worn thin daily with what was once the most basic of tasks. However, I know that I have made it this far thanks to one very special person…my fiancé Mindy.

Now for those of you who know me personally, I think you can sympathize a bit with her.

Picture this…

The day before your engagement photos, your fiancé calls you and tells you to meet him at the hospital because he’s a dumb ass and he broke his leg.

The Dr. then informs you that you will need to reschedule your entire wedding because of that same broken leg.

You are then told that you must take care of a 28 year old stubborn male, who can not bath himself, feed himself or even get himself out of bed.

Take all that and top it with my impatience and “type A” personality and that is what Mindy has had to deal with for the past 15 weeks. I don’t think many of you would last very long. However, never once has she complained about the inconvenience my stupidity has caused. Even in my darkest hours, and there have been plenty, she was always there right by my side trying to find a positive outlook on things.

Words can not describe just how grateful I am to have her. Usually I would make a joke and say something like, she is lucky I found her, but the reality is that I am lucky she found me.