being prepared

This morning the first bit of good news has scrolled across our television screens, but even before the news went on we could already hear and feel the change in the air. A blessed marine layer has covered us finally and the winds have died down allowing the above DC-10 to aid in the fight. Almost 9,000 acres have burned now more than 30,500 people, about a third of Santa Barbara's population have evacuated from their homes. Today's headlines said 'everybody's affected now'.

yes. If anything good can be said about this devastating fire, or any natural disaster, it is that it has the potential to bring people together. The feeling here is that no one is a stranger, everyone is our neighbor, our friend. I hug people I don't know, offer our house, our help. Last night the nearby college was ordered to evacuate, my daughter posted on facebook to contact her, we could take a few more. I want to volunteer at the Red Cross, but we've decided to leave on our trip as planned. We have struggled with this as any parent or homeowner could imagine. But the support we've gotten from family, friends and dear neighbors helped us to decide. I spent most of this morning sitting at the breakfast table of our two close neighbors. They have been so sweet and reassuring (even though this morning we all received a paper in our mailboxes reminding us to gather what we will need in the event we have to evacuate) telling us to go and they would keep both sets of eyes on my kids. I should say they are 18 and 23, and have good heads. Sorry I am jumping all around, it is such an emotional time. I cry unexpectedly. Yesterday my daughter stepped on a bee and I cried, I hear the helicopters, i cry, oh and when i overheard my son having a conversation with one of his friends a "hotshot" who's fighting the fire, i really cried. I pictured him when he was a little boy, now he's fighting deadly fires.

I am really hating these last few posts, my hearts hurts all the time, all the sadness and fear. But i have two bits to share that really made me smile through the tears! First, my lovely in laws have a home to return to! Here is an amazing story that my F.I.L. told to us on the phone (their still safely away 2 hours north). The gated community they live in is mostly all retired citizens. It seems they all got out safely except for 2. These elderly gentlemen stayed (reason unknown) saw the fire coming and hid! Until morning. When they stepped out they saw that the landscape had burned around them, black. But the condominiums stood untouched. They are made of stucco and mortar, probably bricks too. I think some windows blew out from the heat. But home and memories inside still intact. Breathing now....

and then this!

This 3-day-old mule deer fawn and a baby bobcat displaced by the fire are being held in the Santa Barbara County dispatch center, as flames continue to rage through their natural habitat. This photo was in the local paper yesterday! Hello little ones! Ah, I hope they'll be ok.

Thank you everyone from the bottom of our hearts for all your good wishes,prayers and thoughts. We are not out of the woods yet so if I can be so bold to ask, please continue to send them out to all the firefighters, people and animals that need it. Bless your hearts.

love, lori