Seriously starting over, a new beginning in my closet

When I created my new blog I had no idea how startlingly true the word would become in the next week or so. My house burned down. Along with it, 25 to 30 some years of collecting, returning, going back and getting it again, buying 2 pairs, swapping, waiting for someone to put an item down because that was the exact dress I was looking for and she didn't and she kept it. Jason Wu pink yellow and faille dress I was not able to get from the Target collection.

this is my front door, next to it to the left was my front closet with Calvin Klein pale cream silk raincoat along with my Target Missoni coat, I will also not be able to replace

I love books about 2500 of them and most are done a little crispy but with asbestos & lead siding they are untouchable

Here was a wall of my family. Pictures, letters my Grandfather had written me on my 21st birthday, it was amazing how quickly the fire spread.

more of the family wall and how fire just destroys everything in its path

Here is my new front door, my house is unfit to live in, the toxins, the smoke damage and I am not allowed to take anything from there because of the hazardous materials this house was made with in 1952.

My biggest learning lesson, have your home owner policy updated every couple of years, when you buy something large or have made changes your agent should keep on top of these things but if they don't you do. Another very valuable but expensive lesson I learned was buy an electrical fire extinguisher. The fire was caused by faulty wiring so pouring water on it is like pouring gas and even my regular extinguisher did the same. So along with your smoke detectors, your agent staying on top of your property being covered buy a electric fire extinguisher and have it in a known place in your house so that anyone can retrieve it, it might have made my world of different. I was burned in the fire 2nd degree and 1st. One of my pups ran off and I spent a agonizing time in the burn unit wondering where my Ping was and if she was safe. It was a big lesson and I am glad to share it with as many people as I can so that it may not happen to you. I was lucky regardless of being unprepared, all my animals were safe along with me and that is the most important part of the story. Yes it is a sad thing I lost all my belongings however I did not lost my life or that of another. Please do these small adjustments so that you are covered & that is the last thing you have to think about while getting everyone to safety. Now that I have said my peace on this matter I will begin my new chapters of my passion in life. Fashion, family and safety for all. Can't be funny or glib about that so I will end this first entry with Ping my dog that ran away from the 7firetrucks 3 ambulances and 7 police cars to not be seen for 2 weeks and to thank the family she walked into and keep her safe while I spent the first weeks looking for her knowing she was out there waiting for me to find her.

She is a healing little creature with more personality than a Mickey Roarke character and I thank all energies of the world for returning her to me. Thanks to all my friends and family and all the lovely people that came up to me on the street and knew I needed something and just gave it to me. We are nice to each other given the chance and that is another great lesson I learned from the ordeal.