Still – you did the right thing. Or – if you did a wrong thing, it was in the right direction. Would you rather over-react to a false alarm, or under-react to the real thing, hmmm?

Maybe he’d respond better if you coaxed him out of bed with a juicebox and a promise to take him to McDonald’s.

My husband and I have been married for nearly 22 years, and except for a couple of years, he’s always worked the graveyard shift. So I know well of what you speak when you talk about tiptoeing around. Third-shifters are of a different breed me thinks. My husband refers to us as “day people,” in fact, which never fails to make me laugh.

Although I probably would have looked out the window first to see if there were actually flames inching ir way towards my house, I still think you did the right thing. Chalk up his cranky comments to the graveyard syndrome, as I like to call it. Quite often they say snarky things that they don’t really mean, it’s just the tiredness and the weird sleeping patterns speaking. Have you ever heard the song “Daysleeper,” by R.E.M.? Reminds me of my hubby and all those who make their living by working at night. Have a listen . . .maybe you’ll like

Love your writing. I’m slowly making my way back through your archives. Looking forward to reading more.

LISTEN! First of all, you can’t ask me that question of overreacting…because apparently…JUST BECAUSE A TORNADO IS KILLING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT LITERALLY RIGHT DOWN THE INTERSTATE FROM MY HOUSE IS NO REASON WHY I—HEARING TORNADO SIRENS FOR 45 MINUTES OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE–NEED TO BE UPSET! ACCORDING TO THE ONE MAN IN MY LIFE WHO IS THE ONLY ASSHOLE STANDING OUTSIDE WITH A FLASHLIGHT ON HIS HEAD WAITING TO BE STRUCK DEAD BY LIGHTNING WHILE I AM HOVERING WITH MY TEN YEAR OLD IN A TWO X FOUR CLOSET FULL OF EVERY BLANKET/PILLOW/FLASHLIGHT(MINUS THE ONE ON NUMBNUTS HEAD)/BACKPACK FOR TEN YEAR OLD COMPLETE WITH EVERY GAME BOY GAME SHE OWNS AND A PICTURE OF HER FATHER (WHY? I DON’T SEE HIS ASS CRAMMING HER IN THE CLOSET TO SAVE HER LIFE)/TENNIS SHOES WITH SWEAT PANTS UNDER NIGHT GOWN/GRANOLA BARS/ AND OF COURSE A TWELVE PACK OF BEER (YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG THOSE THINGS WILL LAST AND i WANT TO BE FULLY PREPARED) PURSE w/ ATM CARDS/ CAR KEYS/ OH AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE TWO DAMN DOGS I JUST FELT COMPELLED TO BRING HOME FROM THE SHELTER. There we were, all crammed in this space…I was sweating like a hooker in church and all I could smell were dog farts and bad breath for an hour but DAMMIT I was protecting my baby!

Of course you didn’t over react. DID he not hear about the 911 call that Fox news covered of the disabled lady who was put on hold by the 911 operator as the flames were engulfing the bed she was lying in and she couldn’t get out…who later died because of the fire? It was terrible. You did what you thought was best at the time…which may or may not have been the complete burning down of your home.

WHY DO MEN ALWAYS DO THIS? MY HUSBAND IS THE EXACT SAME WAY. I have learned to ignore him…I am usually right in the end anyway so to hell with his machoism. I love him, and I’m proud that he is so strong that he can live through an F5 tornado…however, my 48 pound child could not…so he can just get over my neurotic behavior. The bottom line is that you never know. And it is better to be safe than sorry. My aunt burned to death in a house fire when she was ten years old waiting for the damn school bus at the neighbors house at the corner! So, I am not a good person to ask. I am the person who has a plan for everything…to include my next purchase of buying a rope to hang out of my daughter’s window just in case she has to climb down….YES I KNOW….but better safe than sorry.

You did good. AT least you are not saying..”WHY DIDN’T I DO SOMETHING?” and wishing like hell you did. You’re a good MOM!

LOVE YOU TAMMY!!!

I work with a bunch of firefighters so I’m going to ask about that “no siren” deal. I doubt it’s because of the neighborhood, but that was a funny comment!

Hubby and I were at a hotel once in the town of the college where son was on a recruiting visit. We had just settled in for the night when there was banging on all the doors with lots of commotion. Seems we were on the floor of their laundry and one of the huge washing machines was on fire. I was lucky to grab some jeans and a sweatshirt, but the hair rollers? I’m grabbing at them trying to get them out as we ran. Good god, can’t be caught in those! It was quite the exciting evening, standing outside in the pouring down rain amongst all the old ladies in their pink bathrobes and rainhats, purses clutched in their hands. It really was kinda scarey, though, so I know how you felt. I never realized just how disorienting it can be to have to leave somewhere that quickly.

It’s possible that Alex had a point – we women maybe do unreasonably project disaster at times, but men? IMHO, they tend to get way too lacksadaisical about safety. Fine, stay there in harm’s way, but I’m gettin’ the hell out! Death by fire? No, thank you.