This morning a little after 8:00 am there was an explosion at the oil refinery in Big Spring. I’m sure that all of you already knew this since the news has made it all the way to CNN.com.
News of this sort makes me feel so much for all of the families involved. All the wives and children at home wondering if their husband/dad is ok; even if they are ok they probably will not be making it home for dinner tonight.
I was that kid and my Mom was that wife. My dad has worked in the oil business for more years than I have been alive and has had to deal with fires, down plants and long hours trying to make sure things like this don’t happen. But the fact is that they do and you can only hope and pray that everyone is ok. My Dad paid his dues at the gas plant and has worked his way up in the company. I am so thankful that today he sits safely in his office and we don’t have to worry about him.
Even though for the most part he is in his office he does still have to travel to the plants. Back in October while at a plant in Eunice, NM a fire broke out. My Dad and his colleagues had left the plant just moments before to go eat lunch. God definitely had his hand in that one. Though no one was hurt my Dad stayed for hours trying to get things straightened out and making sure that everyone stayed safe.
I’m so proud of him for all the pride that he has taken in his work and I’m so thankful that he has been safe for all of these years. Even though we spent some holidays and many meals without him, we were so blessed that he always came home unharmed.
I love you Dad and am so glad that you are safe today. Though things like this don’t have to happen for me to know how special you are to me, it makes me realize how blessed I am to have had you in my life for all of these years.
Update: All workers have been accounted for and only one was injured.
You might want to make sure that your gas tank is full, prices will be going up soon.
I spoke with one of our therapists today that lives in Big Spring and she said that when the explosion occurred it shook their whole house. She knew right at that moment what had happened. She lives about 3 miles from the plant itself. She said that she could smell the gas & such the minute she walked out the door.
Crazy stuff – thankfully everyone is accounted for and safe for the most part.
I am so thankful that no one lost their lives in that explosion and they certainly could have. I, too, am glad Mashala’s dad came home every time unhurt. Those plants are very dangerous AT ALL TIMES and I don’t think most folks ever give it a thought.
Mashala’s Mom