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Fire Alarm
Dec. 1st, 2022 12:17 amAfter a long day working on campus, I packed up my work laptop, and took it home. Once home —this was after 9:00 PM — I attached the laptop and peripherals to the docking station at home, and tried to connect to the Patent Office’s VPN; I was supposed to have my laptop on, connected, and locked for a software update tonight. However, I couldn’t make the connection work, and it was probably too late to call the Service Desk; what’s more, I was hungry.
I started cooking dinner and making a salad when the fire alarm went off. Sometimes it ceases after making noise for a few seconds, but not this time, so I turned off the stove, put on my shoes and coat, and evacuated the building, feeling annoyance and self-pity. Then I asked myself how a Ukrainian would feel about my hardships. There was an article in Wednesday’s Washington Post about the mayor (a middle aged woman) of a Ukrainian town under Russian bombardment, trying to help the remaining people of the town get firewood stoves and what else they need, while working from an office in an underground bunker, with one light bulb for illumination.
That helped put things in perspective. Also, after I waited for ten minutes or so in the next building, I was able to return; the fire trucks were gone, and the alarm was no longer blaring. I was able to cook and eat a very late dinner.
I started cooking dinner and making a salad when the fire alarm went off. Sometimes it ceases after making noise for a few seconds, but not this time, so I turned off the stove, put on my shoes and coat, and evacuated the building, feeling annoyance and self-pity. Then I asked myself how a Ukrainian would feel about my hardships. There was an article in Wednesday’s Washington Post about the mayor (a middle aged woman) of a Ukrainian town under Russian bombardment, trying to help the remaining people of the town get firewood stoves and what else they need, while working from an office in an underground bunker, with one light bulb for illumination.
That helped put things in perspective. Also, after I waited for ten minutes or so in the next building, I was able to return; the fire trucks were gone, and the alarm was no longer blaring. I was able to cook and eat a very late dinner.
