Terrifying.

This morning I had what was probably the most terrifying experience I've had in recent memory... more terrifying than not being able to find somewhere to live, more terrifying than being pulled over for the first time in my life, more terrifying than the time I collided with a deer and totaled my car.

This morning, I thought my building was on fire.

Everyone (well most people) who know me know that I have an irrational fear of fire. I don't know what started it, but since as far back as I can remember I've been terrified that my house was going to burn down. And today, I was positive that my worst fears were coming true.

You see, every apartment in my building is equipped with fire alarms, many of which seem to go off at a semi-regular basis. I guess they're pretty sensitive, because I've set mine off twice just by taking a shower, (the first time that happened I almost had a panic attack). So, usually when I hear a fire alarm go off (they are super loud), I get a little adrenaline boost, and then manage to shake it off. And since it happens pretty often, I know to expect three beeps, a pause, three more beeps, and then silence... I found out by experience that six beeps is about how long it takes to register that it's your alarm going off, and to run to the alarm and yank out the battery.

This morning, however, was different.

This morning I heard the alarm go off. Three beeps, pause, three beeps, pause... three more beeps, pause, three beeps...

I wasn't freaking out yet because every now and then it takes a little longer for the apartment occupant to stop their alarm...

Three beeps, pause, three beeps, pause, three beeps, pause...

Now I was starting to worry a little...

Three beeps, pause, three beeps, pause... running feet, three beeps, frantic door unlocking sounds, three beeps, frantic noises in the hall next to me....

Panic ensues.

Three beeps, pause, three beeps, then... crazy loud constant beeps. No pauses here.

It was the hall alarm. My building had to be on fire.

I threw on a shirt (I was still in my pjs thanks to the two tylenol p.m. I took the night before that made me sleep through my alarm), grabbed my keys, and ran out into the hall.

My next door neighbors (we share the wall that runs the length of my living and bedrooms) had their door thrown wide open and smoke was pouring out of a room that I'm assuming is the kitchen... but they are all still in there including one of the kids. So, I asked the lady if there was really a fire and she said no (I think... I was in panic attack mode by this point and she didn't seem to speak English very well). But I didn't see any flames and the smoke smelled like cooking smell (albeit a very acrid version), so I was somewhat appeased.

But still panicking. And the continual beeping of the fire alarms wasn't doing anything to sooth my rapidly unraveling nerves.

So I did what any rational (or perhaps unrational) person would do... I threw on whatever real clothes came to my grasp first, grabbed my computer (that way I'd have all my pictures and important things in the event that my apartment burned up), and hightailed it out of there as fast as humanly possible.

When I came back about an hour or so later, the beeping had stopped, my building was still there, and the only lingering reminder of my super scary morning was the hint of smoke lingering in the hallway.
Oh, and the nausea I was experiencing thanks to the obscene amounts of adrenaline still coursing through my body.

I almost supplemented my lunch with a large glass of red wine... maybe I'll have two with dinner.