Our lumberyard burned. I slept through the fire engines. I am just up the hill and can hear Ganges noises well. But I have been tired, coming out of sessions in two writing schools with homework to prepare for a residency this week.
So when I got up to catch a ferry at dawn I was totally unprepared. When I saw the scene with smoke pouring out of the roof, I gasped and grabbed my heart. It was a shock. Apparently there were huge explosions as the paint went up. With the fumes, the fire just roiled along the building roof. It was unstoppable.
In such a brief time, so much can change.
Tonight I went to take a closer look and Windsor Plywood is manned with a security guard. It is to preserve the integrity of the scene for insurance purposes. Islanders were driving by to see for themselves. About every five minutes people were stopping to stare or chat. The lumberyard is a fixture and to have that fixture gone, well, it rocks the community. Of course, the owners are already working double time with a temporary office. A tent is coming so the trades can keep going.
I was wondering if I would still get my account bill. Yup. I checked. It came in the mailbox today. Guess I better pay it lickety-split.