As I watch the news and read the paper, I am back in
Laguna Beach, California, 27 October 1993 in a car with my children
trying to outrun a wildfire.
We were in traffic going south on Pacific Coast Hwy.
On my left, I could see the fire roaring down the hillside, after the flames
engulfed my home, towards us. To the right I could see the Pacific Ocean.
I told David my oldest to hold on to Adam and Molly run like hell to
jump into the ocean if the fire got close to the Hwy. I would follow.
When I see the news and the photos I am back right back there and I can smell the fire,
I can see the fire.
At the time we were one of the largest fires with losses in California and the US.
It was the start of what is happening right now with wildfire in America.
We were all affected by this fire and carry today much of what happened that day.
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Now to change the story. . .
Here is your pretty to start the week.
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Lobotomy and facelift in progress.
tako tako tako has gotten me
wurf
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agatha is silly gud dug
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cheers, parsnip and badger
Gayle it looks so terrifying. You will know what it is like better than most.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a strange footnote to this, the fire was started in the start of canyon and the Santa Anna winds blew it down the canyon and blew up Laguna Beach.
DeleteWhat a harrowing experience that had to be. I can’t imagine the fear you and your children must have gone through in trying to escape those fires. My daughter lives in California and although the fires are not near her (today), the smoke is. A few years ago they were driving out of Yosemite National Park as fires surrounded them. I was so glad that I did not know about it till a year later.
ReplyDeleteI kept quiet and just said get into the car now what did upset them is their father demanded them to open the door and beloved cat jumped out. That was the end of our family as always he wouldn't listen to what we had to say.
DeleteWhat a horrifying experience, glad you all survived. I don't understand all the fires in California, I was born there and remember very few fires. Is it just too many people building where they shouldn't? That's for my pretties.
ReplyDeleteBeside global warming the wonderful governor captain moonbeam and his extreme liberal cronies have done so much damage to California.
DeleteI might talk about this Wednesday if I feel up to it.
We were very close,very very close to a forest fire in the south of France.We were evacuated in the middle of the night.Terrifying
ReplyDeleteMiddle of the night is never good. I hope all is well with you all.
DeleteHow terribly frightening that must have been! I hate hearing about the terrible fires causing so much destruction and heartbreak.
ReplyDeleteIt is such an ongoing problem If I can tamp down my anger, upset and sadness of these fires
DeleteI might post Wednesday. Especially when the first thing out of governor brown mouth was to blame the people who move into and want to live in California,
The news about fire in California has been so heartbreaking. And it's too real to you. I thought about you when I heard the reports.
ReplyDeleteVideo and photos of Agatha and Winston made me smile :-)
I remember living in a wonderful California it is now a huge mess.
DeleteI read what you wrote and think how terrible and frightening it was for you and the children, and in the meantime 200 rockets have been fired here from four o'clock, this is the world in which we live unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteSo Sorry to read about what has happened today where you live.
DeleteYes what a world we live in.
We're watching the fires and remembering what life was like when we lived there. It's heartbreaking to see areas that we know consumed by fire. Our children are out there, but nowhere near the fire areas. They can see the smoke and depending on wind direction, smell it. I remember living in the Mt. Washington area of L.A. and having a brush fire on the canyon hillside and how horrible that was, so I can't even imagine what you went through in Laguna!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are, as always, a beautiful respite from all the bad news! xoxo
I have backpacked and camped in much of what has or is burning and it makes me so very sad.
DeleteAgatha is quite thorough in her work.
ReplyDeleteI have some old toys that I washed and mended, thehamish didn't play with anymore. I was going to give them away. Now I am going to keep them for her experimental surgery.
DeleteOne never ever quite gets over experiencing a fire...never. You just learn to live around it and move on. So very sad for all of those enduring the fires the last few days and for them triggering your memories. X
ReplyDeleteI remember you saying your home burned down ? It is a hard thing to live trough.
DeleteWhen you have young children you have to be strong and keep the " hysterical criers" away from your family. They were usually people who had not lost homes but need the attention.
We've had wildfires close enough that I could smell the smoke and the ash came down like snow, but I've never seen one and I hope I never do.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
It is very scary but also heartbreaking in the destructive beauty.
DeleteScary times.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary and so upsetting in the fact much needs to be worked on and political governors need to get off their chairs and listen to what people in the know are talking about. California governors starting with Gray Davis and now jerry brown need to step back from the very liberal
Deletecronies that run California,
What is very sad the one of the first things out of jerry's mouth was to blame the people who move into California.
I figured those news stories would be hard to watch for someone who has experienced the worst. Be strong my friend.
ReplyDeleteI know what is coming after the fire. That will be tough times to live through.
DeleteCompletely terrifying. Those poor people who have lost their homes and lives. I can’t imagine what it must be like.
ReplyDeleteWe were very lucky that we survived. No one died in the fire
DeleteI look back on the years I lived in the Hollywood Hills and never remember fires.
ReplyDeleteThis is so completely horrible for everyone, the worry, the danger, the fear , loss of precious things, the animals .. I weep every time I see the news .. you would kind of think, " in this day and age" these things wouldn't happen anymore :(
Stay safe dear !
Things have changed so much in California that I am not sure I could live there anymore.
DeleteIt is the lost of animals that break my heart.
I see the pictures of fire engulfing everything in its path and feel utterly despondent.
ReplyDeleteI pray for those in and near the infernal.
A terrifying memory but so glad you made it out of there. So sad for the people experiencing this now. I heard one guy say all he had left were the clothes he had on and a back pack. Love the doggies.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletenice post! lovely by dagun
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrifying experience, glad you all survived.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the current fires and hearing the news my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.
All the best Jan