Lessons learned

10 days after moving out of my parents' house and into a small place of our own, we found ourselves settling in back "home".

It took a small truck and several trips to haul all our belongings when we moved out. We had new everything. TV, carpets, stove, electric fans...even the rags were new. After the fire, we just got in the car and drove home. Nothing. Just the clothes we were wearing. It is a small comfort that I had been on my way to the office..so I have my cellphones and my wallet and my IDs and two empty Avent bottles in my Coleman.

Jam is slightly daunted...I am, too, but I don't want to worry myself to pieces. I was shocked and hurt and angry at first, demanding WHY it had to happen to us, but I figured we were faring better than some who have lost loved ones to a fire or have no roof over their heads. We were all safe, even if traumatized. We have food to eat, my mom's house for shelter, and there was an outpouring of help from relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors.

There are lessons to be learned, I guess. And now that we have been given a blank slate, it is a challenge..to live a simplier life and be more responsible as a couple. To accept trials and not blame each other or other people whenever we are tested.

I comfort myself with the thought that we did not lose anything we could not live without. All the treasure we own, we were able to save...each other. Our faith is intact. We have our hopes and dreams. And though souvenirs and mementos are now ashes, the memories they represent were not burned. We have love, and we have families. We have friends and we have our jobs. Yes, we are humbled by the experience, and humbled more as we receive with gratitude the help that are extended to us, but we were not stripped of our dignity.

Inspite of it all, we are grateful.