Do you have any irrational fears?

[whitby_2773]

Date: 7/18/2009 10:03:08 PM
Author: luluDate: 7/18/2009 1:31:45 PM

Author: whitby_2773

"being caught in a plane in an electrical storm and getting knocked out of the sky...oh - wait - that's already happened to me....

took me the best part of 20 years to get over a deep, deep fear of flying."


Whitby, did you really get hit by lightening in an airplane? The rest of it is hysterical. I have the image of your eyeballs looking around from a jar on the mantel.



hi lulu

i wasn't hit by lightning, no, but i was on a plane that got caught in an electrical storm. it was a prop, too, as opposed to a jet, and only seated about 28 people, so we were getting completely battered around and the pilot couldnt land. we didn't have sufficient fuel to go to another airport (this was in regional NSW in australia, so think 'back of beyond' a trifle), and he kept circling and circling, trying to land. when it first started getting bumpy, i looked over at tim (who is the sort of flyer who finds turbulence soothing!), and he was reading his book, totally unperturbed. i looked again 5 minutes later as the turbulence got out of control, and he was gripping the arm rails, his lips dead white. i asked him later what he thought was going to happen and he said that he thought we were all going to die. it was so bumpy that you couldn't keep one leg crossed over the other - the bumps and plummets would throw the upper leg up into the air...

people were screaming and at least half the people on the flight threw up. the stewardesses were yelling down the aisle telling people to tighten their seat belts and hold on (NOT comforting!). we circled, and circled, trying to land, but every time we did, we'd hit a hard down draft that thrust us down towards the ground, making us far too close to do an approach to the runway. the pilot circled 8 times, and every time we were pushed down out of the sky. the wings were rocking wildly up and down - there was no stability to it and it was clear that the pilot was barely in control of the plane.

in the end he landed - somewhat short of the runway. we were on tarmac, but not on runway as such. the stewardesses spoke ot us on the way out, and they both said, without question, that this was the worst flight they'd ever been on.

it was absolutely, utterly terrifying.

 

[packrat]

Whitby, I think I''d have shat myself or passed out or both, had I been on that plane. I don''t think there would be enough Lorazepam in the world to get me thru that.

My mom had a dark blue plastic bath mat with the little suction cups on the bottom, for the tub. It had a design on it like waves. It took me until I was about..25 or so before I could have it in the tub, whether I was showering or taking a bath. It reminded me of ocean water, and that made me think of sharks. I also was about the same age when I was able to convince myself that I could close my eyes in the shower spray to rinse my hair-no sharks were coming out of the drain. However, I still can not swim in a pool alone. If I''m in the pool and I stop to tread water, it lasts about 3 seconds before I have the Jaws/Chrissie flash in my mind, and I have to about rocket myself out of the pool.

When our pit bull was alive, I''d bring her into the bathroom with me at night while I washed my face b/c I always have a feeling I''m going to lift my face up and see someone in the mirror standing behind me.

On Sesame Street, there''s a little cartoon w/this boy who is scared to sleep at night b/c there''s an alligator in his room, that jumps up and starts singing and dancing and has huge teeth. Turns out it''s his dog. Gave me nightmares for years about alligators at the bottom of my grandparents basement steps.

I''d like very much to be able to turn my imagination to the *off* position.

 

[Haven]

Date: 7/18/2009 10:00:12 PM
Author: Lilac
[ . . . ]
My mom (a lawyer) once told me a story of a case she was working on where a girl''s family was suing someone because the girl swam in a pool and got sucked into the vent (or whatever it is on the bottom of a pool) and the vent or fan or whatever it was wasn''t properly shut off. The girl got sucked to the bottom and her intestines almost got sucked out from the force of it and she almost died. Sounds crazy, but it happened in this case. Ever since then I ALWAYS avoid swimming over those things on the bottom of pools.
[ . . . ]

This actually happens more often than you''d think, and in many cases the child''s intestines do get pulled out of them and they do die. It''s absolutely horrible.

Illinois is currently working on regulations regarding pool vents. They have created new vents for the bottom of pool that are raised a bit, and have holes on the sides so someone can no longer get stuck and then suctioned on to the vent.

If I had children I would never allow them to swim in pools without the safe vents.

 

[justginger]

I''m petrified of falling into grates. People used to make fun of me all the time, because I would walk completely out of the way to avoid stepping on them -- then one of my friends actually saw it happen to a woman! No teasing for that one anymore.

So maybe it''s a rational fear?

 

[Lilac]

Date: 7/18/2009 11:24:29 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 7/18/2009 10:00:12 PM

Author: Lilac

[ . . . ]

My mom (a lawyer) once told me a story of a case she was working on where a girl''s family was suing someone because the girl swam in a pool and got sucked into the vent (or whatever it is on the bottom of a pool) and the vent or fan or whatever it was wasn''t properly shut off. The girl got sucked to the bottom and her intestines almost got sucked out from the force of it and she almost died. Sounds crazy, but it happened in this case. Ever since then I ALWAYS avoid swimming over those things on the bottom of pools.

[ . . . ]

This actually happens more often than you''d think, and in many cases the child''s intestines do get pulled out of them and they do die. It''s absolutely horrible.

Illinois is currently working on regulations regarding pool vents. They have created new vents for the bottom of pool that are raised a bit, and have holes on the sides so someone can no longer get stuck and then suctioned on to the vent.

If I had children I would never allow them to swim in pools without the safe vents.

I kept trying to convince myself it was a fluke and a one time thing... now that I know it happens to other people too I don''t think I''ll EVER feel comfortable swimming over those things again!!

whitby - that sounds absolutely terrifying. I don''t think I would ever step foot on a plane again after that.

I thought of another irrational fear - I''m scared of falling out of the car. When I''m sitting in the passenger side (even when the door is locked and I''m wearing my seatbelt) I''m scared the door will open and I''ll fall out of the car.

 

[asscherisme]

Date: 7/19/2009 1:55:26 AM
Author: Lilac

Date: 7/18/2009 11:24:29 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 7/18/2009 10:00:12 PM

Author: Lilac

[ . . . ]

My mom (a lawyer) once told me a story of a case she was working on where a girl''s family was suing someone because the girl swam in a pool and got sucked into the vent (or whatever it is on the bottom of a pool) and the vent or fan or whatever it was wasn''t properly shut off. The girl got sucked to the bottom and her intestines almost got sucked out from the force of it and she almost died. Sounds crazy, but it happened in this case. Ever since then I ALWAYS avoid swimming over those things on the bottom of pools.

[ . . . ]

This actually happens more often than you''d think, and in many cases the child''s intestines do get pulled out of them and they do die. It''s absolutely horrible.

Illinois is currently working on regulations regarding pool vents. They have created new vents for the bottom of pool that are raised a bit, and have holes on the sides so someone can no longer get stuck and then suctioned on to the vent.

If I had children I would never allow them to swim in pools without the safe vents.

I kept trying to convince myself it was a fluke and a one time thing... now that I know it happens to other people too I don''t think I''ll EVER feel comfortable swimming over those things again!!

whitby - that sounds absolutely terrifying. I don''t think I would ever step foot on a plane again after that.

I thought of another irrational fear - I''m scared of falling out of the car. When I''m sitting in the passenger side (even when the door is locked and I''m wearing my seatbelt) I''m scared the door will open and I''ll fall out of the car.

I''ve heard of this happening in hot tubs but not pools. OK, now I''m going to have to tell my kids to not swim near those things. Yikes, lots of stuff to worry about.

 

[wolftress]

Small, irregular polka dot patterns or raised dot patterns. It got so bad I couldn''t even watch certain sci-fi shows with polka dotted aliens because they made me want to throw up.

 

[zhuzhu]

Date: 7/19/2009 3:14:41 AM
Author: wolftress
Small, irregular polka dot patterns or raised dot patterns. It got so bad I couldn't even watch certain sci-fi shows with polka dotted aliens because they made me want to throw up.

Does this fear have something to do with the movie A Clockwork Orange? I remember feeling scared of that pattern after seeing that movie for the first time!

 

[wolftress]

Date: 7/19/2009 6:46:39 AM
Author: zhuzhu

Date: 7/19/2009 3:14:41 AM
Author: wolftress
Small, irregular polka dot patterns or raised dot patterns. It got so bad I couldn''t even watch certain sci-fi shows with polka dotted aliens because they made me want to throw up.

Does this fear have something to do with the movie A Clockwork Orange? I remember feeling scared of that pattern after seeing that movie for the first time!

I don''t think so, zhuzhu. I''ve had this fear since I was about 13. I remember looking at a dot-like pattern on a leaf during a Science lesson and feeling queasy. I only saw A Clockwork Orange for the first time last month, and boy was it disturbing! I had to close my eyes for most of the scenes.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/18/2009 9:21:06 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 7/18/2009 8:44:54 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 7/18/2009 4:03:56 PM
Author: Lorelei

Moths.

OMG. ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Lorelei and FrekeChild-


I have the perfect book for you! You absolutely must get it! It is by far my favorite Henry and Mudge book (and I have all of them in paperback). Henry and his parents go to visit his grandmother and Henry''s big dog, Mudge, ends up banned from the house. Henry is terrorized by a moth in his bedroom. Luckily, there is a solution!

AGBF

 

[atroop711]

Date: 7/18/2009 10:23:50 PM
Author: whitby_2773
Date: 7/18/2009 10:03:08 PM

Author: luluDate: 7/18/2009 1:31:45 PM


Author: whitby_2773


''being caught in a plane in an electrical storm and getting knocked out of the sky...oh - wait - that''s already happened to me....


took me the best part of 20 years to get over a deep, deep fear of flying.''



Whitby, did you really get hit by lightening in an airplane? The rest of it is hysterical. I have the image of your eyeballs looking around from a jar on the mantel.




hi lulu


i wasn''t hit by lightning, no, but i was on a plane that got caught in an electrical storm. it was a prop, too, as opposed to a jet, and only seated about 28 people, so we were getting completely battered around and the pilot couldnt land. we didn''t have sufficient fuel to go to another airport (this was in regional NSW in australia, so think ''back of beyond'' a trifle), and he kept circling and circling, trying to land. when it first started getting bumpy, i looked over at tim (who is the sort of flyer who finds turbulence soothing!), and he was reading his book, totally unperturbed. i looked again 5 minutes later as the turbulence got out of control, and he was gripping the arm rails, his lips dead white. i asked him later what he thought was going to happen and he said that he thought we were all going to die. it was so bumpy that you couldn''t keep one leg crossed over the other - the bumps and plummets would throw the upper leg up into the air...


people were screaming and at least half the people on the flight threw up. the stewardesses were yelling down the aisle telling people to tighten their seat belts and hold on (NOT comforting!). we circled, and circled, trying to land, but every time we did, we''d hit a hard down draft that thrust us down towards the ground, making us far too close to do an approach to the runway. the pilot circled 8 times, and every time we were pushed down out of the sky. the wings were rocking wildly up and down - there was no stability to it and it was clear that the pilot was barely in control of the plane.


in the end he landed - somewhat short of the runway. we were on tarmac, but not on runway as such. the stewardesses spoke ot us on the way out, and they both said, without question, that this was the worst flight they''d ever been on.


it was absolutely, utterly terrifying.

I would have never flown again

. I used to love to fly (since I LOVE to travel) but one day when I was flying home from the caribbean ALONE...the plane hit lots of turbulence and then an AIR POCKET..OMG the plane fell 1000ft (if I remember what the pilot said). That was it for me. People who weren''t buckled in were lifted out of their seat...some hitting their heads (including a baby that was sitting on the lap of their parent). It''s because of this that I reluctantly fly, cry when we take off (I literally have tears in my eyes) and am completely nervous wreck the entire flight. I also ALWAYS buy a seat for my kids even when they are infants and can fly on my lap. Ugh...I''m flying in 2 wks and the nightmares have been going on for 2 months now. I HATE IT

 

[atroop711]

Date: 7/18/2009 1:31:45 PM
Author: whitby_2773
being caught in a plane in an electrical storm and getting knocked out of the sky...oh - wait - that's already happened to me....


took me the best part of 20 years to get over a deep, deep fear of flying.


i also once watched a show based on an edgar allen poe story about a man being buried alive. since then, i've been afraid of that. as a result, tim and i for years have had an agreement that - when i die - he will be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that i am dead, and will then have me cremated. after that, we have an agreement that he'll put my ashes in a clear glass jar and keep me in the living room where i can see things happening so i don't get bored. every so often he has to swap which room i'm in so i can have a change of scene. i really considered asking him to put gladwrap on the jar and punch holes in it so i'd be able to breathe, but i stopped short of that....just....


(still thinking about it, to be honest)

ok Kareyn, we are too much a like (I guess it's a gemini thing). I also made Freddy (my dh) promise to cremate me (I'm claustrophobic and don't want to be maggot food). He has to split me up in 4 jars (one for each of my children)) and he has to keep me in whichever room he's in....so I can keep an eye on him

. LOL I told him that if he drops me and vacuums me up, I will HAUNT HIM forever

 

[AGBF]

Date: 7/19/2009 7:01:45 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 7/18/2009 9:21:06 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 7/18/2009 8:44:54 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 7/18/2009 4:03:56 PM
Author: Lorelei

Moths.

OMG. ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Lorelei and FrekeChild-


I have the perfect book for you! You absolutely must get it! It is by far my favorite Henry and Mudge book (and I have all of them in paperback). Henry and his parents go to visit his grandmother and Henry's big dog, Mudge, ends up banned from the house. Henry is terrorized by a moth in his bedroom. Luckily, there is a solution!

AGBF

Can you put that into words, Lorelei? I am not sure what you are telling me! You would love the book. There are no terrifying scenes, believe me! Henry is just afraid that there will be a moth in his room. I believe one shows up, but if it is shown at all, it isn't shown in a way to upset anyone. I will tell you the ending. Henry goes downstairs and out onto the front porch and cuddles up with Mudge there. He is able to sleep very well once he is with Mudge, and when the moth comes along, Mudge eats it.

AGBF

 

[whitby_2773]

atroop!

you have to do the SOAR program! that's what i did. it's not cheap (between 200 and 500 dollars, but it's EXCELLENT, comprehensive, and offers free, lifetime emergency counseling if you're about to fly/at the airport and can't make yourself get on/etc.

the man who runs it was a commercial airline pilot (continental airlines i *think*) for around 4 decades, and has now been working as a therapist for some years. the course is a collection of DVD's and on the phone counseling, tho i believe you can see him in the flesh if you want to also (he's in CT). they often have NY get-togethers in manhattan restaurants, tho i have never been (do the course, and we'll go to them together if you like!)

the cd's cover how planes work, how fear works, what causes anxiety, exercises to help you get over panic, exercises to do on the plane to distract you, a dvd to watch ON the plane during take off etc, and loads more. it's a BIG program with something for everyone.

i called him once some years ago before i flew - signed up - and we did a 40 minute counseling session over the phone. as a psych myself, i can really recommend him - he was terrific and really on the ball with what he said.

got me over it, and i was DREADFUL. before we lived in the US, tim and i lived in england - 22 hours on a plane from australia. i was aware that i could deal better with the bumps if i stood up while flying, so i did a number of flights where i would say i stood up 20+ hours of that 22 hour flight. my pulse would hit 140 when i got on the plane, and not go down till we landed. it was utterly physically exhausting. i really credit this course with getting me over my terror.

its address is fearofflying.com definitely worth checking out!

(re the cremation storage thingy - we could really freak our husbands out and tell them we wanna visit once a month, and they have to sit our glass jars next to each other then leave the room so we can chat...)

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

My irrational fear only hits when I have my life in another person''s hands. For example, I''m not afraid of heights. I can climb mtns and look over cliffs and I''m fine in buildings and quite agile on roofs and such. But. You put a harness and a rope on me and tell me to rappel while on belay and I''ll have a panic attack. DH and I went on an aerial tour of the rain forest while in Belize, which involved zip lines that were 85-100 feet in the air. Even though I was harnessed and clipped in with 4 auxiliary back-up connections, I had a really hard time. So while I was OK skin diving with sharks on the trip, I would NOT be OK with bungee jumping.

 

[atroop711]

Date: 7/19/2009 9:34:40 AM
Author: whitby_2773
atroop!


you have to do the SOAR program! that''s what i did. it''s not cheap (between 200 and 500 dollars, but it''s EXCELLENT, comprehensive, and offers free, lifetime emergency counseling if you''re about to fly/at the airport and can''t make yourself get on/etc.


the man who runs it was a commercial airline pilot (continental airlines i *think*) for around 4 decades, and has now been working as a therapist for some years. the course is a collection of DVD''s and on the phone counseling, tho i believe you can see him in the flesh if you want to also (he''s in CT). they often have NY get-togethers in manhattan restaurants, tho i have never been (do the course, and we''ll go to them together if you like!)


the cd''s cover how planes work, how fear works, what causes anxiety, exercises to help you get over panic, exercises to do on the plane to distract you, a dvd to watch ON the plane during take off etc, and loads more. it''s a BIG program with something for everyone.


i called him once some years ago before i flew - signed up - and we did a 40 minute counseling session over the phone. as a psych myself, i can really recommend him - he was terrific and really on the ball with what he said.


got me over it, and i was DREADFUL. before we lived in the US, tim and i lived in england - 22 hours on a plane from australia. i was aware that i could deal better with the bumps if i stood up while flying, so i did a number of flights where i would say i stood up 20+ hours of that 22 hour flight. my pulse would hit 140 when i got on the plane, and not go down till we landed. it was utterly physically exhausting. i really credit this course with getting me over my terror.


its address is fearofflying.com definitely worth checking out!


(re the cremation storage thingy - we could really freak our husbands out and tell them we wanna visit once a month, and they have to sit our glass jars next to each other then leave the room so we can chat...)

thanks so much..I''m off to check out the website!

as for the cremation visits...you made me LOL so hard. Thanks so much...I needed that esp. since today isn''t a good day. Thanks for putting me in a good mood!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/19/2009 7:55:22 AM
Author: AGBF

Date: 7/19/2009 7:01:45 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 7/18/2009 9:21:06 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 7/18/2009 8:44:54 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 7/18/2009 4:03:56 PM
Author: Lorelei

Moths.

OMG. ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Lorelei and FrekeChild-


I have the perfect book for you! You absolutely must get it! It is by far my favorite Henry and Mudge book (and I have all of them in paperback). Henry and his parents go to visit his grandmother and Henry''s big dog, Mudge, ends up banned from the house. Henry is terrorized by a moth in his bedroom. Luckily, there is a solution!

AGBF

Can you put that into words, Lorelei? I am not sure what you are telling me! You would love the book. There are no terrifying scenes, believe me! Henry is just afraid that there will be a moth in his room. I believe one shows up, but if it is shown at all, it isn''t shown in a way to upset anyone. I will tell you the ending. Henry goes downstairs and out onto the front porch and cuddles up with Mudge there. He is able to sleep very well once he is with Mudge, and when the moth comes along, Mudge eats it.

AGBF

Thats alright then if the moth comes to a sticky end!

 

[LadyBlue]

I''m afraid of Dark, I will be petrified if the light goes of. I''m scared of being alone at home the whole night as well.

 

[Amethyste]

I am actually petrified of dying.
The "unknown" freaks me out.

 

[Luckyeshe]

I have a thing against frogs!! I don''t know why this has happened now that I''m an adult but I use to catch them when I was little and play with them. I can''t stand them when they''re alive, but I have no problems eating frog legs whatsoever.

 

[Haven]

Lilac--I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to scare you even more.

I think it''s so important that people know that those vents are dangerous for their kids. I used to run a rec program and I wouldn''t use pools that had the old grates. They''re too dangerous.

 

[loriken214]

Date: 7/18/2009 11:35:18 AM
Author: stepcutgirl
Clowns. I can''t stand them. I''m not even sure I can explain it but my fear shows itself in the form of anger so when I see a clown and it won''t allow me to scurry away quietly and be gone from the situation I end up yelling at them! Things like ''can we please don''t do this'' or ''I''m not doing this right now!'' I have no idea why that is my response but it is always the same every time.

Me, too! Mom said I used to freak out at the circus. The clowns would come over to hand me a balloon and I would freak out on them.

Lori

 

[loriken214]

Fire scares the heck out of me, too....all kinds of fire. I''ve been having nightmares that my late parents'' house has been catching on fire. We are about to settle their estate and I keep dreaming the same dream over and over....my old room catches fire and I''m paranoid in my dream. I wake up, like the dream is real, and I''m in a panic.

Also, our electric fire alarms have been going off during the night. It is something with the batteries, they need changing, but it is truly frightening to hear them from a dead sleep.

Snakes scare me to death, too. I had to kill a cottonmouth in our backyard a few years ago and it almost did me in. I chopped it in half with a shovel and that thing took forever to stop moving.....I freak out just thinking about it now.

Lori

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

I don''t know if it''s totally irrational, but I have a horrible, horrible fear of being attacked/mugged/raped while walking alone at night. Regardless of where I am. I know most people fear such attacks and all would agree that they''re negative, awful things-- but I simply can''t be by myself outside when the sun goes down. Even in my own backyard. Even in a "safe" place... I nearly have a panic attack each time I have to walk from my school building to my car during the evening. No amount of mace or pepper spray can make me feel safe. I just have some awful sense of dread that sometime during my life I will be the victim of an attack

 

[TravelingGal]

Well geez...I didn''t think I had any but now I''m afraid of my child getting near a pool drain!

The closet thing to an irrational fear I had was scuba diving. I said I would do it over my dead body. But then I decided that if I visited Australia, I''d be stupid not to dive the great barrier reef, so now I am a certified diver, go figure.

 

[Moh 10]

Come to think of it I have an irrational fear of some foods. - Any condiment with vinegar.
Mustard, ketchup, salad dressing, mayo, relish etc.

I will not eat foods with these.
It goes beyond preference.
it is a phobia.

I know where it is from.
As a kid I was a fussy eater and was forced - literally physically - to eat such foods.
This resulted in an adult who has a stage-one emotional reaction when I so much as smell these foods.
I have forced myself to accept the presence of these smells at restaurants since it is unavoidable.

If I visit people I tell them in advance to avoid any awkward dinner time moments.

Other foods creep me out too like sardines, snails, anchovies, and avocados.
Oh and of course those mysterious parts of animals, tongue, tripe, brains, sweetbreads, liver etc. Yuck.

 

[Kaleigh]

9/11 wrecked me. Since losing two dear friends, I have nightmares. They are about flying, falling, and well crashing... I have flown more this year than ever. Both privately and commercially. I am gaining confidence and know, my fears are real but gotta live life... But it is daunting. We flew home from Nantucket today, small pane. It was smooth as silk.

BUT what was I thinking?? JFK JR crashed his plane , same time of night..

I don''t like flying in a small plane at night, weather can be a real factor..

I have flown... all looks good and whammo, it''s a terrible storm and you are tossed around like crazy. Those are the flights that I say never again.. And kiss the ground once we land..

Are my fears irrational?? I dunno. Maybe yes to some degree and I know that.

 

[katamari]

Oh my gosh, Moh and bee*! I had no idea others shared a condiment fear! I have a fear of mayonnaise. Not just a dislike or an unwillingness to eat, but I get so paranoid that food I didn't prepare might have mayonnaise in it that I will sometimes become unable to eat what I ordered in restaurants or at parties and have to order/get something else. I don't want it in my fridge. I don't want it near me. And, I do sometimes trigger my gag reflex at the thought of having to eat it. I am often irrationally fearful that some situation will arise where I might have to eat it.

I am also very fearful of being violently murdered and don't do well at home alone or in my office late at night as a result. I will often scream if FI shows up somewhere unexpected in our home. It used to worry him, but now he just laughs it off and says "Remember me. I live here." Maybe it plays off my fear of death. Anyways, I feel like murder and death are rational fears, though. It is the mayonnaise one that makes me a weirdo.


ETA: And, can I add that one of my biggest irritants are when other people try to bond with me over my mayonnaise fear because they just generally don't like it or will eat it, but would rather not. Um, this is so totally not the same thing. Not even in the parking lot of the ballpark.

 

[Moh 10]

OMG, I thought I was the only one.

I wrote a silly little poem once . . .


Lips that touch mayonnaise shall never touch mine.

 

[musey]

Sharks and dark or murky water.

Being hit by oncoming traffic during a left turn (to be fair, this isn''t necessarily irrational because it''s just leftover from when this actually happened to me).

A fire at my place while I''m out, and my dog isn''t able to escape