And now, a thread story... yes at 5:28am, but there’s a “good” reason:
The fire alarm at my hotel got us ALL up at 4:45am.
I learned some things about myself and others this fine morning — some good, some bad.
And here we go:
The fire alarm at my hotel got us ALL up at 4:45am.
I learned some things about myself and others this fine morning — some good, some bad.
And here we go:
1. Alarms don’t alarm me, and they probably should.
I didn’t jump up and run out of my room. I called downstairs, asked the nice couple meerkatting out their door (like me) if they knew what was up and THEN got fully dressed & hit the stairs.
I didn’t jump up and run out of my room. I called downstairs, asked the nice couple meerkatting out their door (like me) if they knew what was up and THEN got fully dressed & hit the stairs.
2. Once I’m in survival mode I trust no one.
In the stairwell around floor six, a nice dude who works at the hotel said that all was well. Even the overhead announcement said so. But I’m from East Cleveland. The street out front would tell me I was safe. #OnlyTheStreet
In the stairwell around floor six, a nice dude who works at the hotel said that all was well. Even the overhead announcement said so. But I’m from East Cleveland. The street out front would tell me I was safe. #OnlyTheStreet
Sidebar: I also remembered 911. 💔Many were told that everything was fine and they stayed on those upper floors. That has always stayed with me.
3. People handle emergencies (real and those caused by burnt toast...which was ours we found out later) differently. Know your steelo.
I got to the lobby fully dressed with my packed carry-on duffle and everything I needed to fly home. My co-worker was in his robe.
I got to the lobby fully dressed with my packed carry-on duffle and everything I needed to fly home. My co-worker was in his robe.
No judgment. No shade. He heard an alarm and came right down. Which is what you’re supposed to do. But I learned that I prepare for contingencies in an emergency. I had everything I needed to fly home in 5 hours if things went awry AND water & a snack. #FranRaisedMe
4. In all things, be a helper. But if you’re not ‘bout that life, at least don’t be a hindrance.
The lobby was a case study in humanity. Some folks were quiet. Some were obviously nervous. Some were still asleep. But the ones that stood out were the irate and vocal.
The lobby was a case study in humanity. Some folks were quiet. Some were obviously nervous. Some were still asleep. But the ones that stood out were the irate and vocal.
There were at least three that were very upset about what had happened to THEM. How this (group) inconvenience had somehow inconvenienced THEM more. These are the #LetMeSpeakToYourManager folks. It’s never cool to be the #LMSTYM folks in an emergency. Never. Never EVER.
The poor guy at the front desk had to hear about one dude’s sleep patterns being irreparably disrupted (for life, you guys! 👀) and how another chick was insulted that this fine establishment couldn’t ensure that toast would never be burnt in a way that affected her at 5am.
But the standout was the dude yelling...yes I said YELLING...at the front desk guy because the alarm hadn’t been turned off yet. Front desk guy (who deserves a raise) kindly and calmly explained what everybody should know, only the fire department can turn off an alarm like that.
The entitled and vocally irate are a hindrance in an emergency. They mess up the vibe and insist that attention (better served elsewhere, like tending to the wounded or getting folks to safety) be trained on them instead.
Some people are those folks.
Don’t be those folks.
Some people are those folks.
Don’t be those folks.
5. I’m not as attached to things as I thought.
You never really know what you would do if facing a 🔥 or some other “get out quick” scenario. But I learned today that I don’t care about any of my stuff. Lol! I told y’all I grabbed by carry-on, but only because my ID was in it.
You never really know what you would do if facing a 🔥 or some other “get out quick” scenario. But I learned today that I don’t care about any of my stuff. Lol! I told y’all I grabbed by carry-on, but only because my ID was in it.
When I realized the alarm wasn’t going off and this could actually be a thing, my first thought was #MisterHarleyBrown, #MamaFran & my dad and getting back home to them. That ID got me there. I needed it to fly. Nothing else in my bags mattered. Nothing.
And that was a nice lesson for me to learn because I always thought I was attached to all my stuff. But stuff material and emotional (yeah I just got deep) just weighs us down.
We’ve gotta travel light in this life guys. We’re meant to fly, not just trudge along.
We’ve gotta travel light in this life guys. We’re meant to fly, not just trudge along.
6. When you survive an emergency (real and imagined 😉) celebrate the victory, don’t wallow.
On the elevator back up, when we all knew we were safe (Glory be!😃) folks we’re still grousing about being inconvenienced. I said simply this: “But were all alive & that’s a blessing.”
On the elevator back up, when we all knew we were safe (Glory be!😃) folks we’re still grousing about being inconvenienced. I said simply this: “But were all alive & that’s a blessing.”
It was an elevator perspective shift. Thirty minutes prior we thought we were in a building on fire, now we were all completely safe. Some were grateful for that realization. Others still couldn’t let it go.
You want to be the one who can let crappy stuff go. I promise you do.
You want to be the one who can let crappy stuff go. I promise you do.
Anyway, that’s my story. I hope an observation or two made you think or laugh. Life is short. In these crazy times, we need to do a lot more of those two things. ❤️
Oh and I am fine. The hotel was not on fire so all is well.
Truth be told, even if it was: all is well. 😘
Oh and I am fine. The hotel was not on fire so all is well.
Truth be told, even if it was: all is well. 😘
Sorry for typos. It was early. ❤️
