Friday, March 28, 2014

LUCKY

Chris was a lucky fisherman.
He was also lucky in life two
days ago.
Luck plays a big role in fishing; it can also play a big role in life. We got a big taste of luck in the last couple of days as it waved its wand on my second son, Chris.
Chris fished the least in the family because of his heavy commitment to sports in high school and college.  However, when he did fish he was lucky.  He liked to fish and he often would catch a lot of fish or a big one when he did get out with me or his brothers.  Yes, he was lucky fisherman.
Chris is now working and living in Boston with his girlfriend Kaleigh.  Two days ago, he encountered what could be the luckiest (or quite possibly the unluckiest) day of his life depending on how you look at it.  He was sitting in his living room when he heard fire trucks outside his apartment building.  As he looked out his third floor window at the commotion, he realized firemen were frantically entering his building.  Suddenly, he heard shouts in the hallway to "Get Out".  "Fire!".  He and Kaleigh ran to the door, opened it, and immediately were staring at thick, black smoke.  They smartly shut the door and ran for the window where there was a fire escape.  Smoke was also coming up the side of the building.  They climbed through the window and slowly made their way through the smoke to safety.  Chris says they were the last out of the burning building.
Chris' apartment was located
on the third floor of this burning
building in Back Bay in Boston.
He and his girlfriend narrowly escaped.
In the last few days the news has been filled with accounts of this tragic fire in Back Bay in Boston where two fire fighters lost their lives. I can't help thinking about those firemen who lost their lives and  I think how this could have turned out far differently for us.  Chris and Kaleigh are lucky to still be alive.
They literally escaped with the clothes on their back. However, they lost everything.....clothes, keepsakes, memory items, furniture, books, photos, appliances, etc.
Friends have set up a fund for them to help rebuild their lives.  The fund is located here:
    http://www.gofundme.com/7ui8qo
They are currently in a hotel in Boston courtesy of the Red Cross.  They are determined to rebuild their lives.  Support from friends, family, co-workers and even strangers has been overwhelming.  Yes, we are all grateful and thankful they are still alive.  Luck was shining on them that awful day.