Feuerwehr!!

Well, hello, how was the middle of your night? Peaceful?

Ours? Why, thanks for asking...it was a bit out of the ordinary because we got a surprise visit from die Feuerwehr! That's the fire department, if you haven't already figured it out.

Yes, the fire alarm was triggered at the beautiful hour of 1:30 a.m. this morning! Wow. Holy hell, are the alarms loud in the building. I think my eardrums may be pierced. The funniest thing is that when I went in to grab the kids, they were both sleeping through it. I can't even crack an eyelid without them waking up in the morning and jumping in bed with me, but they're sleeping through a KISS concert-loud fire alarm?

Wait, the funniest part is how I happened to be sleeping in a very skimpy tank top and a pair of Hans' boxer shorts...and how I have a big pimple on my upper lip that I was "treating" with a large dollop of diaper cream (hey, it works). I actually had presence of mind to stop in the bathroom and quick wipe off the Desitin. But get pants on or a sweatshirt? Nah, I just threw on my robe, woke the kids up and dashed out the door.

I'm a little surprised at how long it took the MP and the feuerwehr to get here...really, it was about 10 minutes. This base isn't THAT big. Sheesh. Of course, there was no fire anywhere. We still don't know what happened. We all got into our cars and turned them on as it was about 45 degrees and raining. Thank God for seat heaters, that's all I've got to say. We sat out there for over a half hour while the German firemen (I'm officially lonely, since all the firefighters looked very dashing) went through all three stairwells, the basement and the attic and finally turned off the alarms.

It was interesting to see all of my disheveled and sleepy neighbors in the middle of the night! But somehow, they all managed to get decent clothes on...and there I was in my bathrobe...sigh. I know what you're all thinking: "Only Rachel could be so vain in the middle of a crisis..."!

It just went off for a second time at 7:30 a.m....BEAUTIFUL! Back out to the car in my pajamas, but this time, I put a decent coat on. I guess I'd better start sleeping in something decent if this is going to become a regular occurence...

Comments

DD4 said…
What an exciting time for you. I'm glad there was no fire!

I've never been in a building on fire, but in the apartment Heidi and I lived in for three years, we had the alarm go off a time or two. I remember us each grabbing one of our cats (we had two) and I always took my purse - which contains most of my important stuff! To this day, before going to bed, I know where my purse is.
Anonymous said…
Egads! I hope that gets fixed so you don't have to do that every night.

I laughed about the kids sleeping through the noise. I always swore that you guys could hear me quietly, carefully tearing open a candy bar wrapper. That was when you were all upstairs and couldn't hear me calling you earlier. Very curious!

Stay safe!
Anonymous said…
I believe that that is called selective hearing. Your Mom accuses me of that infraction all the time. What is it with the German police-firemen, they all look as if they are former commandos. Maybe they stay in better shape than our defenders of public tranquility here at home. After this you will probably start sleeping with your shoes on and everything so you can outdo the neighbors the next time the alarm sounds.
Anonymous said…
me again. Come to think of it, what, in that concrete monolith would burn except for furnishings in an apartment? Maybe that is why they take so long to get there. And you don't have an on base fire department?
Anonymous said…
Hi. Sure glad there wasn't a real fire. Why the German firefighters? No FD on the base? Annika is so cute. I hope to see her ballet moves when I visit. FYI: Ar STR on 8/2 at 6:40pm. Lv 8/8 at 11:55 AM. Details to follow via snail mail.

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