Smile

Outside of having a 2 centimeter brain tumor removed out of my nasal cavity….. yesterday was the scariest day I’ve ever had.

My sister comes up once a week to help me with my domestic goddess chores (as I am not able to lift anything, or really do anything yet.) She had driven me down to the post office, we stopped and ordered some take out for lunch, coming back home we could see smoke and alot of it in the distance. (People around here in agriculture land, burn ditches, burn trash…. burn just about anything).

However, yesterday it seemed a bit odd, as we were experiencing 60 - 90 mph winds. Actually in hind sight it seemed pretty stupid that someone would be burning during all that wind. We proceeded to sit down and eat our lunch. Ten minutes later a good Samaritan rang the doorbell. Upon opening the door a woman said, “I just thought you guys might want to know…. you’d better be ready to leave”. I went outside and all I could see were orange flames and smoke everywhere. Apparently a fire that was started 10 miles away, took about 10 minutes to reach where we live.

I barked at my sister to get the cat carriers in my garage, not being able to get them myself. I then rounded up 4 cats, not supposed to be lifting them, I did anyway and shoved them in cat carriers. The good Samaritan and my sister loaded them into my truck. My 2 out-door kitties were left to fend for themselves, as they were nowhere to be found. The fire was getting closer, we couldn’t see anything. At times not even my hand in front of my face. The parcel next to us had four horses. Again good Samaritans were trying to round them up.

I frantically grabbed a few antique pictures off the wall, at that point a sheriff burst into my house and said, “you need to leave NOW!” Immediately I thought of my outdoor kitties and all the smoke… the hand made quilt my mother made…. my wedding ablum…. my grandmother’s china dishes…. pictures of my family…. a box full of cards and letters I’ve received through my life, worth keeping but now unable to save.

From the ring of the bell to the point of “You need to leave NOW’ was about 3 1/2 minutes.” My head was throbbing, my hands were shaking. My husband was working out of town. But thank God, my sister was there. The fire crews were all up and down the dry gulch and our neighborhood encompassing about 1 mile. The gulch below us was engulfed in orange flames. There was also about 175 head of horses in that gulch. Ranchers and anyone with a horse trailer were trying to round them up. Miraculously all the horses were saved. We were all evacuated around 12 noon, and at 6pm we were all allowed back. Our house still stood. Actually the hillside is now gone, we lossed many trees, but we still have a home. Chessie, my black and white tuxedo kitty showed up late. A little scared but ok. But I’m afraid Poncho’s body is burned somewhere down below. I keep calling for him, but he does not come.

The rest of the neighbor hood withstood a little damage too… but for the most part everyone made out ok.

Today I have the mother of all headaches. Not sure if it’s from over lifting… over doing…. smoke…. stress…. or sadness. Feeling grateful I still have a home…. I am hoping my cat will come home.

January - They went inside my brain. They removed a tumor.
February - Fire almost destroyed my EVERYTHING. But many men risked their lives to save my EVERYTHING.
March - I win the frickin’ lottery!

SMILE
And please come home Poncho!