Hurricanes and tornadoes I’m familiar with. I even
powered through eight days without power during New England’s Snowtober years
ago. Having moved all around the country, I’ve grown acquainted with all kinds
of weather patterns. Seattle rain. Georgia thunderstorms. The sky dumping snow
in Connecticut.
But fire? This is new.
I walked outside to enjoy the view from our backyard last
Monday only to notice something was off
about the strange clouds forming over the mountain range in the distance.
And that something has been burning for the past week.
Over a thousand firefighters have labored to put out what’s been dubbed the
holy fire. 22,000 acres destroyed.
I watched from a safe distance as the fire traveled
over the mountain range and canyon, greeted by a pungent smoky odor every
morning. And let me tell you, if I’ve learned anything it’s that fire moves
fast.
Only weeks after we left Hawaii earlier this year a
volcano erupted. We move here and a few short months later an area of land that
hasn’t seen fire for over forty years is suddenly aflame. Curious, that.
Gauging the attitudes of fellow Californians, I sense
they’ve grown accustomed to breakout fires. Much like I knew what twelve inches
of snow would look like in New England.
I’m telling you, I’ve observed some wild skies in the
40+ years I’ve been on earth, but none compare to what I’ve seen this past
week.
*blogging break until Aug. 27th. See you then!
*blogging break until Aug. 27th. See you then!