John Ridgway, Malibu fire. All lost

To all that have helped me in this catastrophic time in my life a written thank you is hardly enough. I was stunned to see the generosity and the warm words in your responses here on the timely gofundme page that my dear friend Pam Bloch has set up. She has always watched out for me but I’ve never needed her watchfulness so badly.

Your funds have helped me more than I could have ever anticipated. One cannot really get the full impact of losing all of their worldly possessions in a matter of minutes. Many, if not most can be replaced somehow. There are many things that come to mind one at a time during these days that cannot.

 As most of you know I have been a photographer for a half century. Much of my later work is hopefully saved digitally but my film and the family prints and negatives from all of the last century are gone. I had moved my studio where I’ve done all of my Television branding work to my property in a studio I built in 2002. So it’s all gone.  My intuitive nephew Michael has suggested that perhaps images can be partially replaced with words. That may have to suffice for the remainder of the many cherished signposts of my life that were destroyed.

While your funds have helped me to simply be able to function, as so much was invested in my home, your words have become my new collection of cherished possessions. It is hard to keep one’s attitude up and when I feel a dive into the blackness of this situation approaching you’ve provided me with your very kind thoughts that reinforce a core belief of mine that relationships are what really matter in this world. You all have made that abundantly clear.

 A brief update on my situation.

Laura Newberry of the L.A Times did a wonderful job of painting my picture with words in her piece at:

https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-california-fires-woolsey-hill-camp-a-portrait-of-devastation-from-one-bell-1541892172-htmlstory.html 

I thank her for that and the great work she is still doing for the paper and her readers.

I now have fully working phone and online devices. My friends Heather and Bill have very graciously brought me into their home and made sure my Aussie (the special canine in my life) had medical care after spending days exposed to the heavy poisonous air in Malibu. They have done much to get me afloat again well above the call of duty.

 All of my life is now in my dependable Chevy Tahoe. The other cars burned. The house & Studio are burned to the ground. I have not been able to get back to see the site but that should happen next week. For now it’s about the others affected and thanks to those who see me through all this.

 I have so much more to say to all of you individually.

More to come.

 

John
21Nov18
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  To all of John's friends. He has lost everything in the Malibu fire. All his belongings, his home and cars. Right now he's living in his van with his dog. Whatever anyone can do to help him get back on his feet it would be so appreciated.  We have all known him over 30 years and he always opened his home and heart to those that have needed help in the past.
This is Pam Bloch reaching out to help my friend.