Thanksgiving was going pretty good. Got up, made breakfast, started the turkey, watched the parade... you know, the usual. And the afternoon was going pretty good too - had our huge feast, sat down to watch "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and had pumpkin pie, and then heard sirens.

The firetrucks which normally come past our apartment from left to right (the station, thank goodness is just on the other side of the small airport a couple blocks away) were coming from the right to left - and loud - and lots of them. And I saw a haze out front, and when I still saw flickering lights and sirens a moment later I ran to the back window.

As I write this now, some of the fire engines are leaving. But about an hour ago the apartment complex across the lake from us (it's a pond really) was smoking, the chimney on the end complex had fire shooting out of it. Then the windows too - and the roof. Smoke billowing out, we ran outside to the back porch to watch in horror at the flames shot out from the connected roof out the side of the building.

We're pretty sure they got everyone out in time, I never saw any ambulances leaving and I think a lot of the complex is actually pretty empty during the holiday, most people gone home to loved ones. But the apartment complexes each have about 8 units and nearly all of the top units had smoke and flames coming out of them at one point - or at least the roofs above them.

I stood in the rain watching it. I have a problem with fires. Well, I had more of one when I was a child, but still, it took us a full year to try to use our fireplace and now I'm not quite so sure about it. I think that's where the fire came from across the way. What's strange is that if it's the apartment in the middle where we think it started - I've seen flickering lights coming from that one on other occasions...almost a foreboding feeling.

It's out now, and as I said, many of the trucks are leaving. But I know that there is still steam rising through the rain, and my hair smells like smoke, it was pouring out of the building so crazily and even though I knew I should leave, it was almost as if I HAD to watch.

So...I hope everyone puts those people in their prayers this evening. Be thankful you have homes, safe homes where you have your families around you. Maybe you don't like this holiday, or maybe you are alone - but at least you're safe. Be thankful for small blessings such as these. I'm grateful that the fire did not spread further into the other complex buildings, and that hopefully it didn't destroy all of the homes.

I'm thankful I have my family here with me.