The randomness of fate

On Wednesday this week, we were in Florida,  in the company of grandchildren on school break, when calls from Boston began to arrive about a 9-alarm fire on our street. High winds and an explosion made it difficult to get the flames under control. 298 Beacon Street was completely lost and the one to its right, partly destroyed. Even more devastating was that two local firemen lost their lives. 

This view is from the back of the buildings on the day of the fire. Our building is a mere two doors down. We share a wall with 304 Beacon St, whose residents will not be able to return for quite sometime, due to serious smoke and water damage and, for now, no electricity. The night of the fire, there was 3-inches of water on the ground floor of our building. The water is since gone, but the young family with 6-month old twin girls, will have to move out while the floors of their bedrooms are restored. Common area carpets, floors and wallboards are being torn out and an elevator short circuit repaired. The windows were open today, despite the still cold temperature, to mitigate the strong smell of smoke, but in the scheme of things, we feel extremely fortunate. Our Boston neighbors warn that we will return to a devastating and all too sobering site, which our community will be living with for quite some time. 

We thank our family and friends around the globe who have reached out in an effort to check on us. It is unfortunate that it takes disaster to remind us of how random fate can be and how truly fortunate we are.