Love this and you so much, "Because when the fire is on the crest of the mountain, but the butterfly dances anyway, the I-love-yous and the go-fuck-yourselves are crystal clear."
What a great story! It made me laugh and cry and I’m so very proud of you. My wish is that everyone who experienced the fear of these horrible fires that have been burning and all the hell and scare they went through and all the loved ones that worried about them and everyone else that can read, will get to read your story!! I was very worried about you and all your critters and Becky, Sam and Charlee who couldn’t be with you and how sad and worried they must had been. Reading your story I’m sure brought some sadness but also so much laughter at the same time! I just love your writing ✍️ so very much. You are brilliant in every way. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I was mesmerized by your eye (and heart) witness account, Norm….so gifted a writer you are. My faves - the parents coming to the rescue, and the all-important Dove body wash. (I’m going to add my Vitabath to my evacuation preparedness notes!:-)
Norman, as a former San Diegan my heart and empathy is with you. I know this fear. I used to sit around and make a mental list of the things I would save when the time came. The thought of having to leave my horses to burn is unfathomable. My super power from living in SD for 30 years is the ability to smell wildfires from miles away and guessing the magnitude of earthquakes.
Here's to hoping you won't have to make that crucial decision to save the Dove Body Wash again.
I would guess there are at least a couple dozen horses a stone's throw from my house, and several hundred on my street. This community turns into Seal Team 6 when it's time to get horses out. But, yeah, we'd rather not.
Must have been hard to leave San Diego. It consistently has the best weather on the planet for my money.
San Diego does have good weather, but I'm a New Yorker. In San Diego I was "abrupt and abrasive" as noted on my employee reviews. Here in NYC I'm "efficient and effective".
Wow, that was a deep, troubling mind trip for me. Like watching a car accident in slow motion and not being able to do anything about it. I felt your fear as my adrenaline took the ride with you. I feared for the horses and animals and their owners. I would have gone crazy if I couldn't have gotten to them to try to save them, or at least let them loose to find their own way. And I fear for the innocent butterfly just going on it's peaceful journey and never know if s/he made it or not. Now I'm sad. You made the fact that our football team lost not sad, but just an everyday event. But my adrenalin never came into play, just some F bombs and things like that. Like the hiccups compared to actually losing your cookies after a fun night out that turned into a lonely hell and the embarrassment you live with the rest of your life. I guess you all survived as you went in and out of that dark nightmare that was so real because you couldn't stop smelling the smoke. Peace to a beautiful family. Life will go on....as, hopefully, did the butterfly.
Fun fact about our canyon: many of the neighbors raises butterflies, so they're ubiquitous around here. It's a nice community perk. And funny you say it was like watching an accident in slow motion--that's exactly what it's like watching a fire spread across the mountain. It happens fast and agonizingly slow at the same time. Definitely has that nightmare quality.
Sadly, I have a butterfly garden next to the golf course behind the house. I only saw two Monarchs this year, and they were both on the golf course. I also saw black swallowtails and one yellow swallowtail....all summer! They have really taken a hit with the climate changes, fires, etc. So sad.
I grew up in the California wildfires (and then landslides). What macabre part of you can make those moments funny? Another great story. My subscription to your articles is more than worth it.
Your account of what to bring during an evacuation truly hit home. It does make you truly focus on what you value. I love what you and Becky brought. I was sentimental when we had to leave quickly. But I mean, Dove Body Wash?! That’s perfection. You are raising some good kids there.
Love this and you so much, "Because when the fire is on the crest of the mountain, but the butterfly dances anyway, the I-love-yous and the go-fuck-yourselves are crystal clear."
You and the dancing butterfly are one and the same. ;)
Norm,
What a great story! It made me laugh and cry and I’m so very proud of you. My wish is that everyone who experienced the fear of these horrible fires that have been burning and all the hell and scare they went through and all the loved ones that worried about them and everyone else that can read, will get to read your story!! I was very worried about you and all your critters and Becky, Sam and Charlee who couldn’t be with you and how sad and worried they must had been. Reading your story I’m sure brought some sadness but also so much laughter at the same time! I just love your writing ✍️ so very much. You are brilliant in every way. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, mom. Love you!
Maybe the best fire-evacuation-save-the-Dove-weird-neighbor story I've ever read.
That's the genre I was aiming for.
You funny, but that is terrifying.
Agreed on both fronts. ;)
I was mesmerized by your eye (and heart) witness account, Norm….so gifted a writer you are. My faves - the parents coming to the rescue, and the all-important Dove body wash. (I’m going to add my Vitabath to my evacuation preparedness notes!:-)
It's good to have your affairs--and your Vitabath--in order. Thanks for reading, Pat! :)
Norman, as a former San Diegan my heart and empathy is with you. I know this fear. I used to sit around and make a mental list of the things I would save when the time came. The thought of having to leave my horses to burn is unfathomable. My super power from living in SD for 30 years is the ability to smell wildfires from miles away and guessing the magnitude of earthquakes.
Here's to hoping you won't have to make that crucial decision to save the Dove Body Wash again.
I would guess there are at least a couple dozen horses a stone's throw from my house, and several hundred on my street. This community turns into Seal Team 6 when it's time to get horses out. But, yeah, we'd rather not.
Must have been hard to leave San Diego. It consistently has the best weather on the planet for my money.
San Diego does have good weather, but I'm a New Yorker. In San Diego I was "abrupt and abrasive" as noted on my employee reviews. Here in NYC I'm "efficient and effective".
This reminds me that I have a NYC cab adventure to write about... ;)
Wow, that was a deep, troubling mind trip for me. Like watching a car accident in slow motion and not being able to do anything about it. I felt your fear as my adrenaline took the ride with you. I feared for the horses and animals and their owners. I would have gone crazy if I couldn't have gotten to them to try to save them, or at least let them loose to find their own way. And I fear for the innocent butterfly just going on it's peaceful journey and never know if s/he made it or not. Now I'm sad. You made the fact that our football team lost not sad, but just an everyday event. But my adrenalin never came into play, just some F bombs and things like that. Like the hiccups compared to actually losing your cookies after a fun night out that turned into a lonely hell and the embarrassment you live with the rest of your life. I guess you all survived as you went in and out of that dark nightmare that was so real because you couldn't stop smelling the smoke. Peace to a beautiful family. Life will go on....as, hopefully, did the butterfly.
Fun fact about our canyon: many of the neighbors raises butterflies, so they're ubiquitous around here. It's a nice community perk. And funny you say it was like watching an accident in slow motion--that's exactly what it's like watching a fire spread across the mountain. It happens fast and agonizingly slow at the same time. Definitely has that nightmare quality.
Sadly, I have a butterfly garden next to the golf course behind the house. I only saw two Monarchs this year, and they were both on the golf course. I also saw black swallowtails and one yellow swallowtail....all summer! They have really taken a hit with the climate changes, fires, etc. So sad.
Butterfly farming should be a mandatory high school course.
Yes, like Civics and Why EPA?
I found myself rereading all the last sentences of your paragraphs. Horrible situation, really lovely and hilarious piece.
Thank you! I actually put a lot of thought and heart into those last sentences, so I appreciate that you noticed. :)
Wow… all I can say is I wish you and your family the best.. peace and strength and that one cat… yah, he was over the shenanigans…
That's his guiding philosophy--No shenanigans.
Probably lessons learned in his first six or seven lives....
Bahahaha...
I grew up in the California wildfires (and then landslides). What macabre part of you can make those moments funny? Another great story. My subscription to your articles is more than worth it.
Ah, the mudslides! Yeah, we'll be bracing for those soon enough. And macabre?! Me?! ;) Thanks for reading, Steve! I always enjoy your responses.
Your account of what to bring during an evacuation truly hit home. It does make you truly focus on what you value. I love what you and Becky brought. I was sentimental when we had to leave quickly. But I mean, Dove Body Wash?! That’s perfection. You are raising some good kids there.
He knows what's important and when. ;)