Day 5 - 315 -- Smoke and Fire

While working with the weather channel on in the background today, the pictures on the screen brought me to a stop. The California fires looked so horrific. The one in the northern part of the state has devastating figures -- 31 dead with 228 missing; 6400 buildings destroyed, including a whole town. I'm not sure I know how to process that. With two further fires north of Los Angeles, the situation looks dire. The ferocity of the fires near populated areas is scary.  We've had forest fires close to town since I've lived here, but not as huge as those we see on TV or those family members lived with years back with the Kelowna fires in BC.   All those involved are in my thoughts.

Fire can be relentless. My mother was in a fire that took the family home and a whole block of wood-front main street. At the time, they lived above the general store in the small town. Everyone got out safely. One large steamer trunk was pulled out with them. It contained my grandfather's WWI uniform and many items from my grandmother's youth. She gave me a small egg cup from her china cabinet one day, telling me that she found that in the ashes after the fire was out. Her younger brother had given that to her before she was married. After that loss, neighbours provided them with some of the basics for setting up a home again. I have 2 pie plates that she was given. Community can pull together after a tragedy, which provides support in durable goods, but more importantly in spirit. The family then moved into the city as there wasn't anything left for them in the small town during the 1930s. Mom was a small child, but she did carry the fear of  a fire with her.

A song for these thoughts seemed difficult to find. I settled on one that speaks about working with a major fire nearby and the idea that the visual would be with them always. The guitar opening is iconic with this one. The repetition and beat sort of represent anxious feelings. Enjoy!

Smoke on the Water -- Deep Purple