Photo Prompt — © marie gail Stratford
The blast started in the catalytic cracking unit of the Exxon refinery. The initial blast unleashed a catastrophic chain of events and further explosions destroyed most of the refinery, killing four people. An investigation into the explosion and safety procedures is underway and pending these investigations the complex will remain closed.
“Lucky you weren’t at work last night. There was an explosion at Exxon.”
“What happened?”
“An explosion. It shut the refinery and killed four people.”
“Oh no!”
“They probably didn’t feel a thing.”
“No. Not that. It means the price of petrol will rise.”
Rochelle asks us to use the PHOTO PROMPT. What thoughts crystallize in your mind? Can you tell the story in a hundred words or less?
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Reckon you’re on a winner, here, Irene. 🙂
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For that I thank you. 🙂
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I see you are carrying out the compassion (or lack of) theme! When we care less about human lives than prices we have slipped a notch in our humanity. Great writing!
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Thanks Charli. The irony struck me on this Day of Compassion that in one post I advocated in the other I ignored it. I agree though it actually makes you stop and think and if you think it is wrong, your compassionate side is working okay.
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God, tells us who we shouldn’t be doesn’t it!
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I hope so.
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Priorities, priorities. Ironic one Irene.
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Thanks Sandra. It does seem ironic as the post I did before this was one on compassion for the 1000 speak day.
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Ha…just about says it all really. Great flash Irene, and again, fantastic twist at the end, love it 🙂
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Thanks Sherri – glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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How can I not love such a cynical character! This was a fun story and you made me stop for a minute and remember that the important things in life aren’t things at all!
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So glad you enjoyed it and you came to an important realisation. Thanks for dropping by.
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Dear Irene, Wow, I hope we collectively never take the price of gas as being more important than human lives. Great story! Nan 🙂
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Thanks Nan. I agree with you. It would be a sad day indeed.
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Very poignant in regard to greed. Your story makes us stop and think and ask ourselves what is important to us.
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Thanks Joy. I’m glad that it has had that impact. It would be a sad day for human life to mean less than fuel prices and the like.
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Irene! How awful, Ypu made me flinch at that ignorant remark.
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Glad to hear that Dawn. Hopefully we all do.
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Yes, good point.
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Dear Irene,
So much for compassion, the almighty dollar (or pound) is the bottom line, isn’t it? Love the irony in your story. So true to human nature.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Yes I felt the irony also. Cheers Irene
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Oh no! Well, I guess we all have our priorities. 🙂
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Sadly yes but happily not many of us have this chap’s priority.
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I’m afraid that would have been my reaction. Ain’t we just so crass!
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Hopefully you are just using the irony of it. Sometimes it is easier to deal with these things by making a joke of it which is why the minute something horrendous happens there will already be jokes all over the internet. One way of coping with horrible situations
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A very truthful account how people set their priorities right.. I will take my bicycle 🙂
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LOL. Bicycle will keep you fit too.
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