Exciting Evening Last Night
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
October 5, 2007 3:13pm CST
My husband's pickup went up in a "blaze of glory" last night.
He works evenings; so he leaves for work about 6 pm; well last night he never made it to work.
I had already left to take my son to his taekwondo class and when I arrived at the class with my son there was a message that my husband had called adn needed me to call him.
I called him and he said his pickup had been "smoking" and quit running and could I take him to work real quick. So, I started driving home (18 miles away) so I could rush him to work and then pick my son up from his class.
About 12 miles from from home I saw a fire truck pull onto the highway ahead of me and going in the same direction. I remember thinking that my husband had said the truck was "smoking" before it quit working and I wondered if one of the neighbors had mistakenly reported it as a fire. When I got within 1 mile of our home I could see the flashing lights in the distance and figured that sure enough the fire truck was at my house.
Well, I was both right and wrong. Two fire trucks and a police car were in front of my house and my husband's truck was burning brightly in the evening dusk.
After he talked to me on the phone, he went back outside and noticed flames in the truck. He immediately went back inside and called 911 who patched him through to the fire department.
Once they arrived they started to battle the blaze; but, of course, it was too late. All of our neighbors were there watching and taking pictures - my husband said we should have charged them for the evening's entertainment. It was the most excitement we have had in our neighborhood in a couple of years.
The truck is a total loss and since it was an old vehicle (1986) it only had liability coverage on it. The fire chief said it looked like "mechanical failure". Fortunately it was away from the house when it happened and no one was hurt.
But, my husband's old work truck truly went out in a "blaze of glory" last night and my husband ended up calling into his work and taking the night off.
3 people like this
3 responses
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I can easily understand how that much excitement could get a person's labor started. Of course, the labor, just adds to everyone else's excitement.
We were also very glad the truck was not closer to the house or in the garage when it happened. We have a horseshoe shaped drive and one end is now blocked until we can make arrangements to have it towed away.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 07
We bought my mother's car, to keep her from driving it without a license, when she couldn't see. It had one fire, and hubby fixed what he thought was wrong. A few months later he was coming home, from and evening job, and did the "blaze of glory" thing as well. I am so thankful that it was not mom who had this fun experience. I would say your hubby deserved an evening off.
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Well, you are now what could be considered a local celebrity. For literally decades people will be talking about the day your truck brunt up.
How about an annual BBQ picnic where you show home videos of the infamous event? It's what I'd do!
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Actually - only until the next person makes a stupid mistake or has an accident.
Last time was about 2 years ago and our next door neighbor was celebrating moving into his brand NEW double-wide home by having a BBQ. Unfortunately, his grill was too close to the side of the house and the house caught fire. He had scorch marks and a hole about 4 ft wide and 6 ft high on his new home for several days, until he could get it repaired.
