While wildfires are raging in California, in Tampa, FL this past Thursday night (1/9/25) a freak car fire which then exploded started another car and the roof of the home Ben (my 22 year old son) was living on fire. The home will likely be a total loss due to the extensive fire, smoke and water damage as the PVC water system melted. All of the belongings in the home are covered in soot, fire extinguishing chemicals and are smoke damaged.

Ben was preparing to move into new solo housing at the end of the month and has lost everything except a change of clothes, his documents and computer.

All of his clothing, music gear, bedding, bathroom linens, spices, cookware and sentimental stuffies and books will likely be written off by the insurance company and compensated at a fraction of their value. If any of the homeowner's insurance policy pays out on his belongings, it will be months from now.

All of the family has a safe place to be for now but Ben has to accelerate his move in date to this week, already squeezing his finances and now will move in with literally nothing.

All of the things I just got him for Christmas in anticipation of his move to his own housing are also destroyed.

I know that there are thousands of people and wild animals left unhoused, injured and in peril in California but this is our boy and we're asking for a little support for Ben as he starts over from scratch. Even $5 from many people adds up and at the very least gives moral support so he knows he's not alone.

Thank you and may we all live in less interesting times for the remainder of this year.

2025 go easy on us, please.