What would you take?
posted: May 1, 08:59 PM
A huge fire has been burning out of control about 5 miles from my home. Perhaps not even that far, but certainly not far enough away to feel “safe”.
I live in a community with lots of parkland and wilderness areas. It has always brought me great joy to have the ocean almost literally on my doorstep and walking trails and wilderness hiking also on my doorstep. Yesterday, however, brought the reminder that along with these welcome gifts from nature, also come some less welcome gifts.
Friends who live a short distance from me were evacuated from their homes yesterday. Others are in an area where the police will only admit residents who can show identification, because, although it was deemed “safe” to remain, it was too dangerous to visit. This police closure is a 15 minute walk from my house. The area between the closure and home is woodland. It was a huge relief when the rain began at noon today.
Yesterday I had the luxury of deciding what I would take if we were evacuated. I consider this a luxury, because I know of people who were lucky to escape the fire, but didn’t have time to take anything with them.
What did I plan on taking? My passport and baptismal certificate (closest thing to a Scottish birth certificate); citizenship status; camera, pictures of the Princess; a change of clothes; 2 needle points my (artist) Godmother created for me and a photo of my father. Obviously, in a potential crisis the only truly important “things” to take are the humans and pets, but, if the opportunity presents itself to take what may be irreplaceable these were my priorities. Given sufficient time there would have been a “few“other items which might have found their way into the car. But, I would count myself fortunate to have kept the above choices.
I’m glad nature appears to be back in balance.