Holy Smokes - Car Fire on Five! (NWR)

Posted Tuesday, September 16, 2008 8:54 AM

It's pretty much rule of mine not to talk about work but leaving work - that's okay!  Only this morning, leaving work was NOT okay.  Or more accurately, leaving the parking garage attached to my office building was forbidden.  At least not until the car fire was extinguished.

By the time I arrived on the scene, the fire was already out but the "OK" had not yet been sounded.  While I waited (a bit literally) for the smoke to clear, I stood somewhat nearby so I could see when exiting cars were getting the go ahead.  In that time quite a few of Cleveland's Bravest walked past and "noticed" me.  Well actually they were noticing my lunch box (as gifted to me by my Honey on my last birthday).  A well-loved, mid-1980's, metal, Care Bears lunch box. "I would have taken you for more of a Dora the Explorer type," called out one, while others simply pointed and smiled.

Finally allowed to leave, two conclusions entered my thoughts as I circled out of the garage: 1) No matter how difficult recent work nights have been, I'm certainly doing better than the poor soul whose car burned half a floor above mine; and 2) Metal lunch boxes ARE cool!

- Bride