AFRA Member Gail Head's Home burns down
by Leonard Henderson
December 8, 2009

From: Gail Head
Date: 12/8/2009 8:59:46 PM
Subject: I'm alive but still in shock

First let me say, I appreciate the concerns, prayers, and thoughtfulness of each and everyone this message is being sent to~!!!

Hubby and I are alive and were not injured, at least physically anyway. Emotionally, well, that's another story. We are both still in shock. Here is what happened:

We left town after work and arrived at home a short time later only to find our home engulfed in flames when we got to the property. I was on the phone with a close friend and started yelling that the house was on fire and burning. I gave her the address and she called 911, and I also called them when I hung up with her. They got there as quick as they could and finally got it out, but everything was destroyed with it burning to the ground. The only thing left was the clothes on our backs. 

What hurts emotionally even more was the loss of our parrots and birds and the sentimental items that simply can never be replaced. All but 2 of the birds were talkers. We also lost at least 1 or 2 of the cats. We had thought and believed last night that all but one of them had perished in the fire and at first, didn't think any had survived. After the fire was out, 1 of the kittens came out from hiding and came to me. Another kitten finally came out but was too scared and would not let me catch it. We had believed that only the 2 of them had survived. However, when hubby went to the property to feed the horses, outside dogs, and all the fine feathered farm family members this evening, Goldie, the mother of the kittens and the 3rd kitten came out of hiding. They were still too scared and would not let hubby catch them, so he put out food for them, but at least they are alive. Will try tomorrow to catch them and bring them into town with us.

Red Cross has helped us last night and tonight with a place to stay, some money for food, essentials, and a change of clothes. Local thrift stores also gave us some clothes today as well as a few friends who brought clothes and other things to us.

Hubby's work, Atwood's Home & Farm has been awesome today too. Could not ask for an employer to be any more supportive than they are. My shop is OK. My landlord for it is an awesome lady and landlord~!!! So hubby still has his job and I still have my shop.

I'll get back to work in it as soon as I can think straight enough to concentrate on what I'm doing. Right now, we are both just very overwhelmed with what has happened and the decisions we are now going to be facing. too many unanswered questions. Can't even begin to say how, what, where, when, or anything about anything.

This was not rental property. We have a land mortgage, but we didn't have a house payment - it was paid for, and no, living in the country where we were, no fire hydrants and insurance premiums not affordable, there was no insurance. In answer to the question --- will we stay there or move? Yes, we will stay and rebuild as we can.

If you write or email, please give me a little time to respond, but I will answer as soon as I can.

Take care everyone. Until later............

Gail

PS --- permission granted to share this message with anyone wishing to read it.

Note from the Editor-

Gayle's address is

Gail Head
% The Studio
8709 Wesley
Suite  C
Greenvile TX 75402

More about Gail Head's appearance at DCRally2007 and the Quilt

UPDATE-

If you want to send her some money to help out send it to-

Service 1st Credit Union
5804 Wesley St
PO Box 8155
Greenville, TX 75404-8155

To the attention of "Linda Bundick" Branch Manager
or you may call her at 903-455-1730 or 903-455-1884, FAX: 903-455-0498,
email: linda_bundick@s1cu.org