10 summers ago we were living on the top floor of a 6 story apartment building in Maryland. My husband and I were married just over a year and our oldest daughter was only a few months old.

It was around 2 am and we were all sleeping snug in our beds. All of a sudden the fire alarm ripped me from my sleep. I sat straight up in my bed and could smell the fear that clenched my belly. No wait, that was smoke! I screamed at my husband to get up – maybe I shook him – I don’t remember. He was up and I was running for my daughter.

At that moment, my instincts took over and I thought of nothing else. I can honestly say that Mr. Common Sense left me at the sound of the alarm. I ran to the baby’s room, scooped her up and ran out of the door. I did not check and see if the door knob was hot. I did not grab a blanket to put over the baby’s face to protect her from smoke. And…. I did not wait for my husband. I left him in what I thought could be a burning building- but not on purpose. You see that, right? I didn’t even pause to think of anything until I had her down the 6 flights of steps to safety.

It turned out to be a small fire by the AC unit that quickly spread smoke through out the building. There was little damage and no one was hurt – including my husband who ended up coming down those same stairs only minutes after me.

So I’m bad in a crisis. I usually panic, scream and freak out or leave some one behind as you just read. Luckily, my husband is the opposite. How are you in a crisis or emergency?

Tell me a story…