Lumpy Custard - Pt 2 - Into the Valleys...

...All was going swimmingly; the room has a lovely new colour scheme, and new carpet put in. All we needed was the electrician to hook all the leccy back up, and it would be time to regain some semblance of normality.

Or would it...?

Imagine, if you will... halfway through your first shift back (27/2) after your weekly two days (midweek) off, you get a phone call from your Significant Other:

"Is your supervisor there tonight?"

"Why's that?"

"The house is on fire."

"WHAT?!?!"

That was our reality, not imagination.

Wookieeman and MIL had been watching a DVD in our flat, when he heard popping noises, and discovered her kitchen ablaze. I won't go into too much detail right now, but suffice to say, life has certainly changed for us. Everyone survived with no injuries, including our cat. Emotionally, there is a huge impact for everyone, including our cat.  Because we're currently staying with other people, we decided to leave her at the house, as it's somewhere she knows, and moving her to a cattery would be too traumatic for her. We feed her every day, and spend time with her when we can, so she's ok for now.

So... what now? 

All our human family members are staying with friends, who are helping us find some short-term accommodation, while the house is repaired/rebuilt  - whatever insurance deems to be required.

Suffice to say, there have been one or two (!) learning opportunities from all of the "life events":

Good family and friends are invaluable.  There are times when you realise how isolated you allow yourself to become - be it socially, or any other way.  And with those realisations come the sometimes daunting fact that this is, indeed, not a good thing, although it may seem like it at the time.  But even then, you really do learn who hasn't given up on you and have remained faithfully in the shadows, ready to take hold of an outstretched hand in your time of need.  Praise God, we can testify to that; from our DP, to BFT, to The Awesome Dude, to the Crafty One. All of whom have their own issues going on, but still let us know in now uncertain terms that they are here for us.  Our neighbours and friends who helped us with accommodation in the aftermath of the fire. Friends who set up a Givealittle page for MIL. It is difficult to verbally express the depth of our gratitude.

Even the strong can be weak... and that's totally ok.             

Read. That. Again.
          

You cannot be the strong independent type 24/7. That's a great way to go doolally.  Instead,  dissolving into a puddle occasionally over the slightest or biggest thing is not only okay, it's essential.

Speaking from experience, here.

And let's not forget about the anger; the frustration; the grief; the sense of loss and devastation. All of which are perfectly valid and completely normal for us mere mortals. There's no avoiding those emotions... just be sure that you're only there on a Visitor's Visa, not applying for residency.

"But remember that there's always someone who's had it tougher."  Totally agree with that!  But that DOES NOT MEAN that your genuine challenges/struggles/ up-against-the-wall moments are any less important. (WookieeMan reminded me of that one morning after a mini-meltdown.)

So how do you move from all of this...?