60 hours. 60 hours – that is the amount of time that has passed since I first learned that the apartment building that my sons lived in was on fire.  60 hours to gain perspective on what has happened and what we should do next.  60 hours to recognize the magnitude of the loss and the enormous amount of support that has been shown the Galleria residents generally and my sons specifically. 60 hours trying to help my sons live in their new normal.

35 minutes.  35 minutes – that is the amount of time it took for the fire to consume the roof.  35 minutes to take away belongings that folks had for years.  35 minutes to watch helplessly and hopelessly as the fire ran rampant. 35 minutes to recognize that fire is relentless and takes everything in its path (photos by Montana Wagle).

Forever.  Forever – that is how long we will retain this event in our memories. Forever we will remember the loss of what was. Forever we will remember the pets’ lives that were lost.  Forever we will be grateful that all the residents and the firefighters got out uninjured.  Forever we will remember the way the community wrapped its arms around the Galleria residents.

Time is relative.  Life as we know it is fleeting. The only thing that we can know for certain that is constant is the love and compassion of others – that is enduring and timeless.

Day four hundred and sixty-five of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C