At the time I wondered why I didn't feel anything. I was numb. Then I felt it, and couldn't stop thinking about it, and now I'm healing and feeling better.

I had a good talk with S, a co-worker who I worked with that Friday of the fire. She was there when the RCMP came, and I gave them my camera, and the library board member (LBM) kind of freaked out about it... and LBM also told us not to be putting any of this on the website (directed at S - when she knows that I do the website). At the time I thought huh? Okay, whatever. Of course we/I wouldn't put anything on the library's website about the fire?! Or is she talking about the big political announcement happening in the library today... whatever.

S said that I behaved totally professionally with the RCMP and even with the reporter from the local paper who came over and talked to me. And that when she saw LBM the next day, LBM apologized for what she said/how she acted. As S said, I was cooperating with a police investigation - it's the law! And heck, compared to what the family lost, I didn't give a damn if I ever saw my camera again. (yes, I got it back). The RCMP officer was very friendly to me and asked if he had gotten me in trouble. (no) I never heard if my video helped or not.

I did talk to the reporter of the town paper, and she used me in her article as "a neighbour who didn't want to be named." I only described what I saw of the fire, and nothing about the family. My next door neighbour gave a wonderful interview to the big city newspaper describing the heroic actions of the man of the house - he saved 3 of the 4 other people in the house.

I'm feeling better about it. I walked to my back fence line to check for any damage to it from the fire. None, not even soot. But the smell... very strong burnt smell. :(

I hope it's cleaned up soon. There is a construction fence around the site, but nothing else has been done to it since the day of the fire.

And so life goes on.

Hopefully I will be going to a benefit yoga class for the family this Saturday. Just have to confirm that someone will cover for me at work. It's at a yoga studio, and I've never actually done a yoga class at a real studio. :)

I'm still running even though it's pretty cold out! It was -6c this morning, and I still ran my 4.4k regular route. The way my schedule is these days, I run it 3 times/week, before work, go to exercise class 2 times/week, and do one long run of around 10k. I tried running in a different direction this weekend - always exciting and scary because I don't know what kind of conditions I'll find (or dogs!). But it was good - I had to cross a secondary highway (no problems), saw dogs (none chased or even barked), talked to curious horses, held my breath when vehicles passed (dusty gravel country roads), and I'm excited to run it again. Two neat things about it - I crossed the irrigation canal which I could probably run along the side of, opening up a huge amount of running options, and I came within 1km of the town... Next time out, I'll add that extra 1km just for the heck of it. If I ran to the town, then ran around the lake and back home, that would be a 21-22km route! Half marathon!

Oh yes, I'm thinking half marathon next year. The co-worker who runs is thinking about doing the police half in April 2012, so I might tag along. Or I'll do the rodeo road race half. My first year running I did their 5k, this year I did the 10k, so it feels right to do the half in my third year of running. :)





Lastly, a still taken off my video of the fire. The fire was horrible, but so beautiful and amazing at the same time. I have pictures of firefighters outlined by fire. They are beautiful pictures. I hope to use them in some way someday...