h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

 Fourth of July was a mixed bag this year. As monshari said, we went to the lake to watch Smoky the Bear try to burn down the forest......actually it was very pretty, as usual. God, the crowds! Don't these people have better things to do! (JUST KIDDING!) Started our journey about 3:00, got home around one this morning.

That made us be in bed long enough to miss the neighborhood tradgedy. Seems a house about four blocks up from us caught fire....the family died. As of now, authorities think some unextinguished fireworks in their trash started it.

I wish Smoky had succeeded,..... and my neighbors hadn't. Trees grow back.

Just wanted to drop this note to say how truly sorry I was to read that about your neighbors. I know how it feels to lose people unexpectedly. It is a stupid, shameful waste.

Thanks. This is a small town, and an even smaller neighborhood. Makes the "what if" feeling too close. There is a law against fireworks in this city, as well as a smoke alarm regulation. No one paid attention to them, much. I guess we will now.

You see, it seems spent fireworks in the trash caused the fire, and their smoke alarm did not have a battery in it. They seem like simple laws,....but "what if"? My smoke alarm needs a battery, too. "What if"?

A mother, father, their 6 & 10 year old sons & their 10 year old nephew perished, and all I can think is "what if" they had obeyed either "stupid law"? It's just sad.

I know it is hard but trust me, do not dwell too much on the what if's, it will only drive you completely over the edge. Focus instead on the lesson you learn from all this, cherish people while you have them and put a battery in the smoke detector, and maybe laws are not all bad, in fact sometimes they will help. Never forget these people and what you learned and in some small way their deaths will not be for nothing. I learned this my freshman year of college when a friend died while cliff diving in an area of beach where it was illegal to do so. It seemed so pointless that he died, but it is something that has never left me. Hang in there. (I don't know if the smiley thing works, I still haven't figured it out)

Thanks. You're right. I learned long ago that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it's obvious, other times you must search for it. I can guarantee there are a lot of new smoke detectors in this town todat!

By the way, your smilies are working just fine. I do believe you've got it figured!