A Tragedy
Dear Ann,
After all my trouble with the car & everything that transpired on Sunday I had only one thing in mind on Monday morning & that was for a relaxed lunch with my long time friends, Judy & Pat. Ever since I was released from hospital three years ago, Judy, Pat & I have had a standard date to meet at Micheles Patisserie at 11.30 a.m. for lunch every Monday. Then we stay on for afternoon tea.
Even though Pat hadn’t been able to be with us for the past month, I was looking forward to being with Judy a little more than usual as its good to have friends to share things with. I don’t mean just negative things, but also the every day happenings & definitely all the good things.
The reason Pat couldn’t be with us recently is rather tragic. Four weeks ago I arrived at our venue when the staff informed me that Pat had been there moments before. She was ordering her lunch when they received an urgent phone call to inform Pat she was needed at home because her house was on fire.
Her husband, Colin, had delivered her there as usual & then gone on to a hardware store to purchase something & thankfully took their beloved dog with him.
Sue, Rachelle’s Mum, drove Pat home & stayed with her. The house was certainly well alight. The fire brigade & police were already there, as some one in the street had called them. Colin was also back there.
Judy, Dawn and Pat at a happier time – Dawn’s 88th Birthday.
Apparently, Colin had been welding in his workshop & a spark must have ignited. Someone managed to get the caravan out which was good as they loved their caravan & often went away camping.
It was a very sad morning & Judy & I could do nothing. Sue came back & said Pat had been trembling like a leaf when she took her home. Of course that did not get any better as reality set in.
The only thing left to Pat & Colin were the clothes they were wearing. It takes a few days for the loss to sink in. Judy & I tried everything to get in touch with her but to no avail.
We couldn’t raise any of the family by phone & the only contact I have had with Pat was three days after the fire when I went to my hairdresser in Boolaroo, an adjoining suburb. I have been getting my hair done there for over a decade at 10 a.m. every Thursday.
I happened to arrive there as Pat was leaving. She looked shocking and all I could do was put my arm around her & give her a hug. Even though she did not look good she was dressed nicely as family had taken them to buy some new clothes.
We would have no idea of what it must be like to lose everything you have in a home fire. Max & I had our Tupperware warehouse burned to the ground many years ago. Although it is a shock & a great loss it’s not personal.
The tragedies of fires, floods & thefts happen. It’s not easy to overcome the losses, paricularly when you are in your eighties. It’s not the time you want to be starting all over again.
I remember nearly two decades ago when we had our massive robbery & I lost so much that I treasured. A friend, David, had been doing jobs for me on the outside of the house for quite a long time & helped me as I felt that I would never get over it.
A few days after the robbery he sat with me on the front steps of our home & said something I will never forget & which helped me heal. He said ” Dawn you have to get over this, it’s sad to lose it all but it is only material possessions, no one has lost their life & that’s what you need to think of.”
Those words helped me tremendously as it’s true, nothing is as sad as losing loved ones.
Pat & Colin are not spring chickens anymore, Pat will be 82 in just over a week & Colin almost 86. I heard through my hairdresser, who is her daughter in law’s best friend, that Pat & Colin have been able to move into a rented home, which is much better than living in their caravan!
A month had transpired since Pat has joined Judy & I & both of us were hoping she would turn up that Monday morning, but it didn’t happen. We have had no word from her, which is a bit strange.
We sat through our lunch discussing what we could do for her birthday & foregoing afternoon teas. We didn’t feel like it which is the only time ever. The truth is we are very much missing our friend, Pat.
And we both know what that is like. Love you & God Bless, Dawn X O X O