Thursday, January 24, 2008

sirens



That's a shot out my window in the wee hours of a December morning in 2005 when my neighbor's house burned.

I'm hearing sirens this morning, and that's one of the things that comes to mind.

Another memory stirred by the scream of sirens is that of my mom heading happily to some daytime Church gathering shortly after Daddy died.  She hadn't been gone long before I heard sirens and saw an ambulance heading in the direction she'd gone; I remember thinking, "Lord, I hope Mother didn't have a wreck."

Well, she did, and almost got scalped as she was thrown out the windshield; she had to be life-flighted to a hospital.  Even though she was in her eighties at the time, she made a full recovery.

People living in cities probably don't notice sirens, they're so common.  But when you live in or near a small town, or in any rural community, sirens tend to make a person uneasy.  Because there's a good chance that ambulance or fire truck is going to the assistance of somebody you know.

At 6 A.M. today, a fire truck went screaming past.  My first thought is always to pray for whoever they're going to help, and I did that.  My second thought was, "My daughter may be on her way to work; might she have wrecked?"

At this point, though, I'm thinking there's a house fire.  I've heard several more sirens blaring past, so there have probably been neighboring fire departments called in.

I'll just keep praying for anybody involved, including our volunteer firefighters.

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

We are not so citified that sirens don't bother me.  Each time, my immediate thought is Lord, please don't let it be one of mine....The next thought is how selfish is that?   I have three sons in the grading business which keeps them on the road a lot.  Also accidents in this business are usually fatal.  I won't lie and say I pray like you but I will say that... I will from now on.  You are a good influence.

Anonymous said...

Everytime I hear a siren, I do pray for the ones that siren is going to help.  I hope those there this morning are ok and that the siren brought the help needed for them.  'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

I remember when the house behind me burned down. I was still married, and it was the night of the 4th of July. I thought I had left the oven on, and sent my ex down to check (men are good for those things, aren't they?). He slid down the stairs and landed on his ass when he saw the flames behind our house, and he was naked. It was the comic relief in the whole incident - luckily no one was home at the house that burned and the firefighters did a remarkable job. I still get nervous when I smell fires. It's the smell for me more than the sound of sirens.

While I am going on and on here, just let me add in a pet peeve~! I really, really hate it when songs have a siren-type sound in them. It makes me look around for emergency vehicles. I end up turning off the radio to hear better - it's just wrong to have that kind of sound in a song!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh man what a sad story about your mom!  I bet you were scared!  Glad to hear she made a complete recovery.  And hope this time it's no one you know.  Boy you really had front door views of that fire huh!~  I love pictures of fires although It makes me sad when its someones house.  

Anonymous said...

That was bad about your Mom. it always makes me feel bad when I hear a siren. I always send up a prayer for whoever is in need. Glad to hear that you do the same thing. Helen

Anonymous said...

We heard them all the time when we lived in Forest Park...always something going on. Now, it is so rare. I tell you what I hear a lot of now, is the train blowing its horn and you can just make out the wheels rolling along in the winter air. You know how the sounds carry more in the winter. I love that sound...its soothing to me.

Anonymous said...

for me, hearing a siren is a bit of relief that help is on the way.  Screeching brakes, however, is a different story.

~amy

Anonymous said...

I still notice sirens. I always say a little prayer too. In my CPR class we were taught when we hear a siren to try to recall the count in CPR. It works!
Pam

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean.  When we hear one in our little community, we're always concerned.

Hollie

Anonymous said...

I know exactly what you mean Mosie.   But I add to the thoughts now just how much I miss being a call firefighter.  

Anonymous said...

The girls know who it is.  They live over in Nap. and the house didn't burn down, but it burned.  That's all I know.

Anonymous said...

I remember when you wrote about your neighbor's fire. I hope they are doing well now. That seems such a terrible setback in one's life. I too notice the sirens around here even though they were a common thing when I lived in san antonio. Paula

Anonymous said...

I'm in a small town too...boy do we KNOW it where there is a fire.  The town found a use for the WWII air raid sirens mounted on various telephone poles around town - they are used to call the volunteer fire brigade into action.  We have one of the sirens on a pole about 50 feet from the house.  Why do so many fires start at 2am? That's what I always wonder. Yowza that siren is LOUD.