Shari's Blog: Fire Day 6

Just a note before I get into the fire "stuff". I have lost about 10 pounds. So glad and so proud of myself.

Now on to the fire. It is slowly creeping up the Rampart Range. It feels like a big ole' snake. If you know me, you know how I literally have a phobia of snakes. The devastation is incredible. It feels like we are in a Doom's Day movie. It feels like this will never end. Our beautiful "Purple Mountain's Majesty" has been destroyed for a long time. As I write this, the fire is 5% contained with 18,500 acres burned. Over 30,000 people evacuated. Spot fires are popping up on the Academy. We fear those embers that cause the "pop up" fires as we fear they might float across I25. We learned last night, via an aerial photo, that Jan's home is gone. It feels surreal to think that her things and Baba's things are gone. All of Baba's recipes gone. Jan's beautiful Shiflera plant (6 ft tall) gone. All of her furniture (antiques, keyboard, dining room set, crystal), all gone. It's funny how the loss of these "things" make me sad. It's not really the objects that I mourn, but rather the memories they represent. I have thought about how an arsonist is probably to blame for this. My anger at that is beyond emotion. No matter how that person is punished, it won't bring back Jan's house or the other over 300 homes and all the memories they contained.

I have to hang on to good things. Yesterday, Jan went to the bank through Glen Eagle. She saw a "for rent" sign at a town home. She called the number and the woman agreed to let her look at the place last night. Jan loved it, but there is some concern about how big the dogs are. The lady called her back today, told her she could rent the place and said that the community is pitching in to furnish it for her. It brought me to my knees. You are good dear Lord. You are to be praised. You are showing us your goodness in the midst of tragedy.