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Evacuation Day 6 – Part 2 – Chris

Chris here with my musings on life with wildfires.

Angry. I wake up angry every day. I talk myself out of it by counting my blessings (yes, that really works) and snuggling with the animals. It’s easy to understand why the anger comes. Fear, exhaustion, worry all add up to anger. It’s important to recognize where it’s coming from and to allow it to flow out of me.

Here is a photo of Taco.

Speaking of the animals, all are doing well. Taco, Beth and John’s chihuahua, has adjusted to having two more dogs and a cat in his small space. Taco is a rescue dog who had been abused and very afraid when they adopted him but they have turned him into a pampered and affectionate pup who loves lap time. He even slept on my lap beside my cat Freddie.

Maddie, our youngest pug, isn’t doing so well. She gets over-excited, barks constantly and refuses to sleep. We’ve had to give her a mild sedative to keep her calm and allow her, and us, to get some rest.

Beth and John are amazing. They are fussing over us and taking such good care of us. Their place is small, and we are bursting at the seams but making due. Cassandra is taking care of us, too, and we’re having fun getting to know the adult she has become.

As you can imagine, it’s difficult living without the familiar comforts of home. We take solace knowing that we have a house to return to. That isn’t the case for many people who live in the small towns near ours. Theirs will be a longer road back to some kind of normalcy and security.

I think often of people who have been driven from their homes by war or politics, refugees from Syria for example. I honestly don’t know how they do it, living in tents without electricity, lacking fresh water, depending on the mercy of others for food, clinging somehow to hope. We have it so easy in this air conditioned apartment, with its WiFi and cable TV. I can use the internet to check on my town and the air quality in my neighborhood. I can order a nice meal with Door Dash and pay electronically with my credit card. My job is still waiting and will deposit a check into my bank account on Friday.

Life is good.

 

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Hugs

Cee

27 replies »

  1. I am always grateful that I am not considering setting foot in a rubber raft, back of a truck or such in search of peace and safety. I think of the great human migrations over the centuries and the mental toll they took, and how much greater that was when done in wartime or disaster.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. You are both right there is much to be positive for, but as you also recognise the anger, the fear and the frustration are all understandable, and need to be accepted. So happy you had a home to return too, but guess it still isn’t isn’t seeing what has happened around your town. Hope continual rain and a good recovery comes for you all in Oregon, California and elsewhere

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  4. I am so glad that your house is safe but it ‘s so sad that others have lost their homes. Even a small taste of what it must be like to be homeless makes us realise how lucky we are compared to others. I remember when I visited the temporary office that had been set up to issue bushfire relief money during our fires. It was a hot day and hundreds of people waited in line for hours to be seen. Staff kept everyone supplied with bottles of water which helped a lot. I thought about refugees and what it must be like to have to spend hours waiting for the necessities of life and not be able to go home. Compared to those people we are lucky.

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  8. Thank you for sharing! It’s definitely important to let that anger out, and then put things back in perspective. I think you’re going about this in a very healthy way, and I hope being able to post about it helps as well. Take care ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Thanks for the update. I often think about what it would be like to live in a refugee camp in Syria or Bangladesh. I think those people show remarkable resilience in just staying alive and keeping their children alive and fed somehow. I always give thanks for my good fortune after I think about those poor people. Stay safe and keep updating us.

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  11. Angry is a common waking up state these days. Humanity has never been better educated in all of its history. 40% could not read or write in Europe in the 19th century. But clearly education has not solved the stupidity issue…
    Stay safe…

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Yes, we are indeed blessed and I’m so thankful for your house being alright. The number of people who’ve lost homes, have lost everything is just inconceivable and breaks my heart. The people in Paradise just went through this not that many years ago! It will be a long way back and I’m thankful for everyone that is helping in any way!!

    janet

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  13. It’s a big relief for us all to hear these updates, so thank you both for writing, especially when you had been planning to take a few days out from the blog. I can understand where the anger is coming from. Your bodies must have been coursing with adrenalin by the time you arrived too. There are lots of precious blessings for you to count, but it’s still a very hard time. It’s horrifying to read about the fires and the air quality. Keep safe!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Excellent post, Chris. And you are right on all accounts. My husband and I spent 5 months (and one week) with my parents during a home remodel that was supposed to take 3-4 weeks (discovered a crack in our foundation). It was tight, but we had all we needed and looking back it held special memories. I even discovered I need so much less than I thought I needed. I am so glad you have your home to go back to, and I hope this too holds special memories for you to reflect back on. My heart breaks in a thousand pieces thinking of the hardships so many deal with right now. I simply can’t complain about anything in my life. Hugs!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Good to hear that you are safe and able to count your blessings. You are just proving to me once again what I have always said: people with problems are much more understanding and tolerant of other people’s problems. The ones with few or no challenges are the ones who have little compassion for others. I hope you can go home soon, to your house and your neighbourhood. With hopefully little damage, if any. Hugs.

    Liked by 2 people

  19. Thank you again for taking time to update us! I can feel your anger, fear, frustrations, worry…
    Thank you for reminding us those refugees for what they had to live through.
    Stay safe, Cee and Chris.

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  22. Well done for keeping the focus on the positive in such very difficult circumstances. Thinking of you all and hoping for rain! Crochet is what keeps me sane in difficult circumstances – do you have any such creativity to take your mind off things for a while? Much love. Hugs.

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  23. I’m glad you’re staying sane, Cee 🙂 You’re right that we always have to be grateful for what we have as millions don’t have that comfort and relative safety. Glad you’re all bearing up, and here’s a hello cuddle for Taco

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  25. It’s a matter of keeping your perspective, isn’t it? That isn’t always easy these days – this year. It seems to me the emotion that visits me most often lately is sadness. Sadness. Sad to say that, sad to see what this world has come to. Hugs to both of you, and your furry kids.

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