I was only feeding myself last Friday night, so I decided to make a pizza for one from a piece of Naan and some leftover tomato sauce and mozzarella in the fridge. I turned the oven on to preheat and then went back to working on my computer.

I heard some clanking, metallic noises behind me but at first, I didn’t pay any attention, because it wasn’t unusual for my oven to sound like that when it preheats. My husband called and I was talking to him when I noticed the clanging was getting more persistent.

And then something–or someone?– told me to turn around …

I saw the flames right away.

They were inside the oven, coming up the left side from the bottom. There was a little bit of smoke coming from the oven door. My heart immediately began to literally hammer faster and louder than I think it has ever done before. I could feel, hear, and almost see my heart beating.

My husband, who was miles and miles away at work, was somehow still right there next to me during this crisis. I said, “Oh my God, Bill, the oven is on fire!”

I had the presence of mind to shut off the (electric) oven and to NOT open the oven door.

After that, I’m not sure what I said. I know he said, “Okay, get the fire extinguisher,” and I did that. “Pull the pin,” he said. I think I said, “I don’t know how!” as I was pulling the pin.

Then he said, “Okay, call the fire department and then call me back when you’re settled.”

I called the fire department directly, thinking I only needed maybe, oh, one truck to just make sure the fire wasn’t under the stove or behind it or next to it in the wall. I didn’t call 911, but every piece of emergency response equipment in my town–and I think perhaps the next town over–showed up to help me.

The fireman said it seemed to him like it was probably caused by a malfunction of the oven and shut the breaker off so that we would both have peace of mind.

So there was no damage. The fire ended up being contained to the oven and when I shut it off, the blower stopped, and so did the fire, eventually. We will only have to replace the oven.

My lovely next door neighbor and friend texted me during all this to make sure we were okay. My husband had my back through the whole thing. My daughter, who was at work, also texted me while this was happening. I feel this shows the strength of our connection, even though she was texting me about something else. I also feel that one or both of my parents were there, making noise and tapping me on the shoulder, so that I would turn around and see those flames while there was still time to intervene. This fire showed me how connected I am to the people, both here and in Heaven, who love and care about me.

I am beginning to wonder if the way my heart was beating was sending a signal to my loved ones so that they would know that I needed them.

I am so very grateful and humbled by all of this.

Later, once my heart came down out of my throat and back into my chest, I realized how quickly it all happened, how it could have gone in a much different way, and how truly lucky I really am.

Gratitude. It’s a wonderful thing.