We started the day with great intentions to take care of some house things, talk to a few adjusters, we have 3 and maybe connect with our real lives. That didn't happen.
We headed out to the house for a10 am meeting with the adjuster for the Volkswagen, a '71 square back. It ran, just needed some interior work and a paint job to freshen it up. He arrived early and did his thing and took off before we got there. There isn't much we could tell him about the vw that he couldn't see already.
Inside we found a propane tank hooked up to a heater for the other folks needing to spend an unbearable amount of time in the freezing carcass of the dark house, unless you are in a room with skylights that is. Diane, the house adjuster, was back at it detailing what she could see that would indicate what the house used to be. I told her I couldn't imagine her job, she has been doing for decades mind you. She smiled, oh my goodness she had a great smile, like she had a fabulous secret and a voice timbre to go with it. She answered, "I get to put your life back together". She's stuck with or to us for the long haul. She probably will be there when we walk into the newly built house. I am grateful for having her on or team.
We also met Darcy, another adjuster. Darcy handles property, your stuff. The stuff you collect. The stuff you live with and around. The stuff you store, pack, take on trips, put on window sills, pack again take to another island and spread all over the world and then collect back up to disperse around your home, treasure, dust, forget to dust and then repeat.
Darcy took 300 pictures of stuff. We will get back to that.
Then the Fire Marshall. I wish I remembered his name. He is the kind of guy you crack a beer with, tell inside jokes with and he likely gives giant bear hugs, not that he did. I just could see it. He was serious, but jovial. The tragedy is over, smile move forward, reminisce and get to work. That he did. He interviewed us over that propane heater for quite some time and took his own 100+ pictures, I am sure.
He talked in detail about the garage. "You had wood in there? What kind, what did you do with it, how did you stain it, cut it, sand it? What did you do with the debris?" And on and on? It was amazing to follow the path his mind was traveling. "You worked on cars? What about rags, gloves, towels" I wasn't with him when he finally went into the remains of the garage but when he joined us back at the heater he shared that he suspects the garage furnace and said something about a motor, belts and bearings.
I have no idea how anyone can see the minutia in the debris, but they all are seeing it. He took more pictures. Of the stove, and other things, to prove it wasn't those things that started the fire.
I took a break from the gathering at the propane tank heater. Not because I was warm, that is for sure. I needed sunlight and to return the cat crate. Her shepherd was excited to hear me outside the house and let me know he was alone, so I left the crate on the porch. Next I borrowed some wool socks from Bonnie. We chatted for a bit and a warmed up. Then headed over to the Word's house. Their siding melted from the heat.
There we talked about insurance and who they should submit their claims to and liability, meaning the insurance companies. There I learned that their door had been kicked in by the fire department. I am guessing they don't actually do any kicking, but you get my drift. They wanted to make sure the fire didn't penetrate the side of the house. I got the Fire Marshall to go over and see what he could do to fix the door so it could be secured.
Back to Darcy finally. She had been working on collecting those 300 pictures and needed time to do some preliminary notes and meet us "for a few hours". So we took the deceased cats to be taken care of, which is a kind way of saying disposed of. This whole experience has shown me how immense our community of support is, and this truly was one of those moments. Zoo family stepped up and offered to take care of the cats and they will become part of the zoo. Don't misunderstand; they won't be buried there and I doubt even theirknow if their ashes will be there, but they will be part of there, if that makes any sense and that is all I can say. Lots of hugs were involved and the kindest blue eyes peeping from over a surgical mask assured us that everything would be ok.
Before leaving the zoo we stopped by another shop so I could see someone I knew would fill my soul and spirit like a warm sip of Burbon and she did not disappoint. I have never experienced a hug like that and it was just what I needed.
The day just got started. I will continue this in my next entry.
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