After the terrible disaster of the Camp fire in Northern California and the near total destruction of the town of Paradise where my family lived I am deeply grateful that my sister Shanna, niece Sabrina and my dad Ken all escaped their respective homes and made it to safety. The photo here, while it may seem to portray utter devastation was in fact a huge joy to see in the days that followed. If you look at the upper right you’ll see a small beacon of hope; my dads 1963 Chevy survived the blaze despite every house in the vicinity burning completely!
By putting out a sizeable brush fire in his backyard that was started by falling embers that morning he created a little time to grab some important papers, family photos and move the truck to a more clear space on the property he hoped it would be safe. As he made his way out, with thousands of other people literally driving through sheets of fire, burning debris in the road, he stopped to help a woman with three toddlers. She was too afraid to make the journey through the flames and was halted screaming for help. He took the time to stop his car, get out and help her find the will and strength she needed to get back in her truck, save herself and the little ones. She made it through the worst before they got separated in the masses of people seeking safety in Chico. Now as the fire has begun to recede and the smoke has begun to settle the reality of the total loss and devastation begins to set in. When we first saw the photos provided by Cal fire of the devastated homes they lived in it brought joyful exclamations and a glimmer of hope as we realized the efforts to save the truck were successful. While we are overwhelmed with gratitude that they survived the evacuation when so many others did not, we now will have to cope with the trauma and the loss and begin recovery efforts.
I am savoring the wisdom, resilience and optimism of my seven-year-old niece consoling herself and my sister after having to put their beloved pet Dozer into his final sleep in the days that followed. Recalling and counting the horrible things they had just experienced she paused and shifted to listing the things she could think of that are good. She finally concluded with warmth that there are 10 good things and only six bad things. It makes me smile, we all know that ten is more than six! Yes! Amidst so much loss there is so much to be grateful for including the support of friends, family and community. We will strive to keep her youthful wisdom and optimism alive within us as we begin the journey as a family to support them in starting anew and looking towards a bright future.
We are asking for your support big or small. We ask with humility and deepest gratitude‘s for any support that you may offer. For those of you who have already shown up with donations of clothing and bedding thank you. I’m sending this message as far and wide as possible so if you receive this message and we do not know each other personally thank you for taking the time to read this. For those of you who are receiving this and have your own family and friends affected please know my deepest empathy and prayers are with you.
With Love, Resilience, Hope, Gratitude and Determination I thank you, Kenna
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By putting out a sizeable brush fire in his backyard that was started by falling embers that morning he created a little time to grab some important papers, family photos and move the truck to a more clear space on the property he hoped it would be safe. As he made his way out, with thousands of other people literally driving through sheets of fire, burning debris in the road, he stopped to help a woman with three toddlers. She was too afraid to make the journey through the flames and was halted screaming for help. He took the time to stop his car, get out and help her find the will and strength she needed to get back in her truck, save herself and the little ones. She made it through the worst before they got separated in the masses of people seeking safety in Chico. Now as the fire has begun to recede and the smoke has begun to settle the reality of the total loss and devastation begins to set in. When we first saw the photos provided by Cal fire of the devastated homes they lived in it brought joyful exclamations and a glimmer of hope as we realized the efforts to save the truck were successful. While we are overwhelmed with gratitude that they survived the evacuation when so many others did not, we now will have to cope with the trauma and the loss and begin recovery efforts.
I am savoring the wisdom, resilience and optimism of my seven-year-old niece consoling herself and my sister after having to put their beloved pet Dozer into his final sleep in the days that followed. Recalling and counting the horrible things they had just experienced she paused and shifted to listing the things she could think of that are good. She finally concluded with warmth that there are 10 good things and only six bad things. It makes me smile, we all know that ten is more than six! Yes! Amidst so much loss there is so much to be grateful for including the support of friends, family and community. We will strive to keep her youthful wisdom and optimism alive within us as we begin the journey as a family to support them in starting anew and looking towards a bright future.
We are asking for your support big or small. We ask with humility and deepest gratitude‘s for any support that you may offer. For those of you who have already shown up with donations of clothing and bedding thank you. I’m sending this message as far and wide as possible so if you receive this message and we do not know each other personally thank you for taking the time to read this. For those of you who are receiving this and have your own family and friends affected please know my deepest empathy and prayers are with you.
With Love, Resilience, Hope, Gratitude and Determination I thank you, Kenna
please share