Paradise is now on the global map. Quite a shame its "15 minutes of fame" is on account of the Humboldt and Camp fires. Now that the Camp fire is 55% contained and the danger of it coming up the canyon is lessening, we all feel a collective sigh of relief, albeit guarded as this fire's movement has been unpredictable.
The smoke in the valley is really crappy and not predicted to leave anytime soon(the air quality folks use index terms like unhealthy and hazardous. Years ago I was very much in love with a high muckety-muck in that field. He was older and worldly and I was a pleasant source of surprise. A true "be here now" lovely time of my life. Sorta what I imagine visiting the Hebrides would be like - living each moment fully, no regrets, knowing that the moment will never be again. And the man, well he is a rolling stone and I am, happily, moss. But I digress...) Everyone is bucking up, but you can read the weariness in our faces as the fires are still ongoing and the season is young.
With the situation somewhat under control, some fire trucks are heading out of town, going home to their loved ones. Yesterday we saw a convoy of trucks from SF - how they must long to feel the coolness of their fair city by the bay. The last 4 or so trucks got separated from the leaders at a signal and almost turned the wrong way. The mistake was noticed, they turned on their lights, and through the red light they drove. It would have been a beautiful sight had they had left the lights on all the way to the highway. Without their help, so much would have been lost and we are eternally humbled and grateful.
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