We had the fire alarm go off in my office building this afternoon. I think my head is still ringing from the alarm.

After checking the postings in the kitchen to see if this was a scheduled test, which of course it was not, we all gathered and walked downstairs and outside. Gathered may be a strong word. We, which means me, made sure everyone was leaving and then just made our way out. All the adults…er, people in charge or powers at be were out of the office at the time. Figures.

I went into a straight up, even if momentary, panic at having to make sure everyone left. Hello, I am the youngest one in the office! For some reason, some people have a hard time following that simple rule in our office. I should be the rebel that does not follow the rules!

Alright fine. Ya, right. I am no rebel. I follow the rules. Most of the time. When I don’t, I just don’t talk about it.

All of that stress and ear holding made me wish we had a beer garden downstairs. Especially since the weather is simply beautiful.

It made me think about being in elementary school (not the beer part!) when everyone knew what to do in the event of a fire alarm. No questions. I remember it happening all the time.

There was one time, when I was in elementary school, that the fire alarm went off while I was in the restroom down the hall from our classroom. Just for a minute, put yourself there in your little, innocent elementary school self. All by yourself in the bathroom. Are you there yet? Scary, right???

It must have been unscheduled since my teacher allowed me to go. I hope. Anyway, I was wearing overalls, I remember. Back when overalls were a thing and everyone wore them. They may or may not have been made of black velvet. I know you are jealous.

When the alarm went off, I got so freaked out, I ran out of the bathroom before I had fully buckled my overall straps! I ran down the hall with my left shoulder strap flapping. When I reached my class and got in line to walk out of the school, I looked around and then fastened the strap, fully mortified that I ran out of the bathroom in that way. Funny the things we remember and remember well.

I also do not remember my teacher looking surprised or relieved upon my return to the classroom. Hopefully my sprint from the bathroom was so fast that she had not yet started going through the roll sheet.

Back to real life, where there is no beer garden downstairs.

Half way through the week! You can do it! Just 2 more work days until you can go and do what feeds your flame. You know what I will be doing.

A little more than 11 days until the time changes and we have more daylight!

What will y’all be doing with more daylight???