Just A Fire

It was a causal conversation. One of those “how’re you doing?” calls, which I try to make in the midst of busy days at work. I know she has had an even busier, less predictable day at home with the kids, regardless of how smooth things are going there or how hectic things are for me. So, when I had a few minutes, “I just called to say I love you” (to quote a song line by Steve Wonder).

After a bit of chatting, she suddenly, but quite calmly, announced that she had to wrap up the call, because one of the children reported to her that there was a fire. “Something’s burning!” was what I heard one of them say in the background. “OK, goodbye.” That was the unceremonious way she concluded our conversation.

I hung up, thinking that a busy Mom is used to many things, from stopped up drains to small fires in the kitchen. She has had both, and many other household calamities. This was surely nothing to get too excited about.

“Well, she can handle it, however bad the situation is. She’ll call with an update if this is a bad fire.” I walked out of my office and mentioned the circumstance to my assistant, who was amazed at how this news of a fire at home had not rattled me. Over the years I’ve learned that my wife will let me know if an emergency arises. Otherwise, she will certainly solve the problem. Indeed, she did not call back, and I was correct -- this was one of the more routine fires. Later I learned that the kids were making some craft in the oven, and some bit of spillage had ignited. Not a biggee. Thank goodness!

So it goes in much of life. We occasionally overreact to things that aren’t really a big deal. Not a life-threatening matter, not a significant loss or injury. Just stuff. And as a friend observed, “if money can fix it, it really isn’t a problem.”

Good advice. And a reminder about what is really important, and how I need to keep perspective.

Now, I wonder if that fire extinguisher is still in the kitchen cupboard, and if it still works…