Little Black Dress, Bewildered and Zonked

YESTERDAY was a beautiful SPRING DAY for FIRE RECOVERY textile items to be delivered around 4.  No rain in the forecast.  Comfortable temperature.  We were waiting sipping diet root beer.  The two metal clothing racks on wheels were in our small living room waiting to be used for the hanging items that would be returned.  

Clothing articles, neck ties, cloth napkins, etc. that were recovered were neatly hanging on wire hangers and covered with dry cleaner bags.  I had cleared the Dining room floor space for the boxes.  Just guessing I think there might be a hundred items on the two racks.  Only 9 cardboard boxes and a few bags of things were returned in good condition.  Small amount.  We weren't sure what would be returned or how many boxes there would be.

The SMOKIES were unloaded in the backyard on the sidewalk.  More damaged returned than things in good shape.  Somewhat stunned and taken a back.  We are living.  We are physically unharmed, but my emotional side is smoked as well.  

Bewildered.  Bewildered is about as good of a word as I can describe this feeling I am having.  

Husband and I opened boxes and bags of the damaged items outside, took pictures and jotted descriptions down for Insurance purposes.  THIS was more emotionally difficult than I had anticipated.  We worked close to three hours outside on this before ordering PIZZA to eat a late supper.  ZONKED might be a good word to describe the pain.  

We will have to continue on this during the week as we ran out of daylight.  Today I am looking through the articles that hang, are boxed or bagged in the house to see what we still have.  My little black dress is the only dress hanging on the racks.  There are jackets, shirts, slacks, a coat, children's clothing, fabric, some jeans and a skirt.  ONE DRESS.  One dress that doesn't fit me anymore, but was saved.

A CHEMICAL SMELL is present on every item.  If some of the items still smell like smoke, we are to let the company know and it will be recorded.  Right away as the things were being unloaded we noticed some smell.  A nice hat my Husband had was definitely still smoky, a leather coat and a dress jacket.

Today, if I can bring myself to do this, I will open the big box that my wedding dress is in to see how it looks and smells.  I haven't found my wedding veil yet.  Found my wedding shoes still in the original box.  They don't smell.  Now, if I were wearing them that would be a different story.  grins. 

I am doing a lot of thinking about how to do things in the future pertaining to keeping an ongoing record of items.  Pictures are a must.  A must.  

I will keep a handful of articles for keepsakes.  I've been looking over images on the internet for decorating ideas.  In a way this has to be freeing.  Lighten the load and be more care free in the rooms.  Color themes and items.  

I shake my head and rub my eyes.  This is a bit much, but doable.  Onward.

MY good green and white quilt was not spared.  She has serious smoke stains on her that will not wash out.  I'm going to try to save this anyhow....for picnics if I can get the smell out.  Shall see.  Sigh.  

The quilt that my Grandma made me that was stored in the cedar chest was in sad shape in the first place, but the Fire Recovery company saved her.  She's tattered and torn, but there are memories attached to this old quilt and I want to keep her.  If nothing else I could cut a piece of her and have it framed to hang on the wall.  Something to think about or cut this quilt into a smaller quilt for a table covering.  Maybe both.  This could be interesting and fun.  I could hang a section of this KEEPSAKE QUILT in the Utility room, Bedroom or Bath.  

If items can be cleaned, the Fire Recovery company cleans it then returns it to the rightful owner.  If the item cannot be cleaned, then it is returned uncleaned, but still returned to rightful owner.

Something that I learned during this trauma is the Insurance company will first see if the item can be cleaned, repaired, if not then replaced.  CLEAN.  REPAIRED.  REPLACED.

Everything is depreciated in value.  This is where the REPLACEMENT attachment to the Insurance policy comes in handy.  Insurance company depreciates everything and prices the damaged item as such.  With the replacement policy they are to allow you to replace the item with like kind and value.  I'll let you all know how this pans out when all is said and done.  

In a few days it will be 5 months since the fire.  Almost a half of a year.

Tis true.  I am sitting, looking at recovered items on the racks, breathing and wondering what to do next.  Think I will group the items together like hang all the children's clothing together, all napkins together, ladies clothing together, men's clothing together, etc.  Decide what to keep and what to give away.  I see a coat that I hope to keep.  I'll have to sniff everything and try on articles to see if they still fit or not.  I don't believe I will be hanging onto very many pieces that don't fit.  Just not gonna do this.

SNIFF.  SNIFF.  Compose yourself and carry on.
This is a slow process.  SLOW.
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