Fire in the Hole!

So, Thursday night, as I was excitedly jockeying between 3 different Instant Messenger conversations, a sense of urgency suddenly blanketed our tiny little universe on the Upper East Side.

Out the corner of my eye I saw flashing lights and the girls were encouraging me to dress. Still not paying attention to what really was going on but registering that evacuation was imminent, I hurriedly saved my conversations (OF COURSE) and logged off. By the time I was slipping on my shoes and throwing on my jacket, the roommates were already descending the stairs.

On the street we were met by firetrucks and EMT vehicles. A ladder was extended all the way up to the fifth floor of an apartment building two doors down on the 1st Avenue side. Even though pidgeons were flapping and flying excitedly, we could only see the smallest evidence of smoke, so we felt good enough to joke about the situation and determine whether any of the rescue personnel at the scene were worth our maneating gazes.

As we were standing on the corner, it was revealed that I was the least prepared of all of us. Renee grabbed money and her purse before leaving the apartment. I'm not sure what Missy grabbed, but since she is a Flight Attendant, she's used to emergency evacuations and procedures and didn't seem convinced there was any imminent danger.

There I was, standing in my coat, my PJ's, and my shoes - Sonny Crockett-style. Imagine what a fetching picture I made: black trouser coat, calf-length gray pajama bottom, pasty white sockless legs and feet and pointy black shoes. I know, stunning. Feel free to take a moment to catch your breath.

I was OK with being so unprepared. There really isn't too much in my life that I wouldn't be able to live without. There would be stuff I would miss for its sentimental value, of course, but nothing I wouldn't be able to replace at some point in my life...OR SO I THOUGHT.

After we returned to the apartment, we got the full list of everything Becca had brought with her in the face of the unknown emergency. Ever a southerner, the following is the complete list of all supplies she deemed absolutely necessary to take with her in the face of unknown danger:

Deodorant

Michael Kors

iPod Mini + charger

new cellphone + charger

make up bag

wallet

jewelry

gloves

Uggs

school reading book

Summers eve feminine wipes

She thought about bringing her new pink rhinestone shoes, but decided against in at the last minute. But one thing SHOCKED me at the recitation of her list.

In all the hullabaloo, I was so scatterbrained and lost in thought that not only did I neglect to think ahead as regards to personal hygiene, consequently not packing any type of wipe or deodorant, but y'all...

I LEFT MY IPOD IN THE APARTMENT! IN MY PURSE! WITH ALL MY ID AND CASH!

Did you hear me? I LEFT MY iPOD IN THE APARTMENT!!!

I know. I'm still reeling from the shock.

I would like to amend my previous statement: There really isn't too much in my life that I wouldn't be able to live without.

I could live without food for a few days, and water, too...I could handle the cold, and the thirst, and the hunger...but I could never handle my life without music.

I am officially in a codependent relationship with an inanimate object. And I could not be happier! To make it up to my iPod, I took it into work the next day and gave her 30 heaping downloads of some of the best Motown ever recorded.

Oh yeah. And you KNOW Rockwell made it on! "I always feeeeel like, somebody's WATCHING meeeeee!"