The Mosquito fire

keeping a positive thought

photo courtesy of Pixabay

(written Wednesday)

I wrote a very long post for Hump day gratitude which is typically short, especially if you did read the link I provided, so I will try to keep this Friday post a bit shorter this week. It will work out for us since I'm a bit distracted.

Our senses are pretty interesting and so much quicker than our thoughts. This morning as I rolled out of bed heading down the hall to fetch our morning coffee, I caught a familiar scent that conveyed a sense of well-being and peacefulness. Awww, the smell of a campfire is one of my favorite smells. 

our fire pit at Sanchez Grove

I took maybe two and a half more steps before I realized we weren't camping, not to mention we’re in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave at the worst time of fire season. I looked out the back windows to confirm my suspicion of a fire in the area; smoke was filling the small valley beyond the back of our house. 

The Mosquito fire, as it has been dubbed, began burning yesterday not more than 20 miles as the crow flies from our house. Today I went to Auburn to do some grocery shopping. I swallowed hard as I came out of the store and looked up at the large plume appearing over the top of the store. Yikes, this one is bigger than the ones I've seen before. 

the view of the fire 20 miles away in Auburn

On my way home, the view of the fire intensified the closer I came to our turnout. I luckily have learned that these views are typically very deceiving, and this was no exception. The fire is too close for comfort, but I'm not packing just yet. As the fireman told me last time we were forced to evacuate, it all depends on the winds.

the view about five miles from home

We downloaded a fantastic app this afternoon, Flightradar24, which allows one to identify all the planes in the skies. It shows all of the aircraft fighting the Mosquito fire, which includes two DC 10's and a 727, as well as some smaller planes and a helicopter. We watch their paths, and when we see them turning to reload, we can count the minutes until they fly over our house. Watching the tiny planes on the screen looks almost like a video game, but those heroic pilots, as well as the ground support risking their lives to help fire victims, are doing anything but playing games. 

It's late afternoon as I write this, 5:30 to be exact, 101 degrees outside, a fire burning far too close for comfort, but the leaves are not blowing on the trees out my windows; there's that.

my favorite kitchen candle, thank you Kim

And I've lit my candle. My mother taught me to light candles for good luck, and I've been doing it as long as I can remember, so much so that some of my friends will ask me to light one for them if they need a little luck. That always tickles me when someone asks me to light my candle for them. 

I've nicknamed lighting a candle for a nearby fire "fighting fire with fire." 

I've said my prayer and knowing I've done all that I can, I'm enjoying some cheese and crackers, a glass of wine, doing what I love most, writing at our dining room table with my earphones on listening to Kenny Rankin (remember him, oh my gosh, love his music). I occasionally look up at Rick on the couch, watching his favorite kind of program, something about racing. We are healthy, as are our family and friends. 

For this moment in time, life is good. And that is all we ever truly have, this moment in time.

Tonight or tomorrow, we may get an alert to leave our beloved home; I sure hope not. But for tonight, I'm going to be lovin' on this house. I've been blessed to live in some beautiful places, but I've never lived in a dwelling I loved quite this much. It's likely the 38 windows that let God's light in and the view of trees as far as the eye can see, not to mention I’m living with my best friend. 

Please send a positive thought our way on Friday morning when you read this, and to all the people in Foresthill and surrounding areas who have already been forced to evacuate. Hopefully by then, the fire will be under control or moving confidently toward that direction.

P.S. I’ve written twice before about fires. I will share the links if you’re interested in reading them. I ventured back myself just now to read my prior thoughts and reactions. So much has changed and nothing has changed. Gratitude seems to be my go to. I don’t think you can beat it.

Fire

What’s really important

P.S.S. Fire update

It’s Thursday night and this fire has become a force to be reckoned with. And sadly I am well aware that this fire drill is far different than the last two scares. Today the fire jumped the river and now is moving quickly toward our area. As I drove to the store today, the plumes just over our hills were beyond frightening. Mother Nature is magnificent even if I hate what’s going on around me. My jaw kept dropping and I had to force myself to keep my eyes on the road.

We are on evacuation warning. If things don’t improve overnight, we will likely be heading out tomorrow. We spent the better part of today packing our most precious belongings. Such a blessing to be allowed the time to think through what means the most to us. I will be writing about this experience likely for some time to come. There’s so much to share, to consider, to reflect upon, to be grateful for even in difficult times. I feel blessed that I have a place to land, that I don’t have children to worry about through such a crisis or an aging/ill parent under my roof.

Send a positive thought our way.