Fallbrook Fire

I got the call to evacuate at 3ish Monday afternoon.
First thing in the morning I'd seen the smoke out to the east and knew it was nearby.
All the TV stations were only covering emergency news...there were several fires all over San Diego County. They said to gather your meds, financial papers, and pictures and be ready to go.
All morning I painted T-shirts for Esly. That seems to be my response to disaster...make something.
I kept looking out the windows, checking on my bees, and pacing, watching the news.
About noon, I saw my neighbors starting to hook up their camper-tent-vehicles, loading in bags... What are they doing? We aren't really going anywhere, are we?
I began to get checkbooks into a bag; meds, vitamins, cell phone charger...
Took pictures of everything I could around the house. Put the extra camera battery in the bag.
The news said to go the minute you got the mandatory evacuation call.
I can't believe I'm putting things in a bag. What am I going to take?
My whole life/work is here. Quilts, patterns, fabric, books, research files, tools, paints...
I started rolling up all the big art quilts, the mediums, stacking the small pieces, folding the functional covers and the unfinshed work, piling them all in the hall "just in case."
Put my two sewing machines there, the scissors, blades, bobbins...at least I'll have something to begin again.
The silver service raced through my mind...a good investment.
The notebooks with my pattern masters.
I'd better take the computer tower if I have to leave...that's got all my memory. How will I attach all those cords when/if I return?
I'm going to Boise on Friday...I got my ticket info papers. The shirts I painted for Esly. My Bible. My toiletries are always in the bag as I travel back and forth from SD each week for classes.
The call came. I can't believe it. I'm stuffing the goods in the car. Grabbing all my black pants, shirts, skirts, undies, bras, some shoes. Throwing in my watch, the glass paperweight the kids brought me from Venice, the fancy beaded slippers, the Bakelite bracelet, shoot, the whole drawer of art jewelry. A picture of A (2 years old), and I at Gary's wedding, Mac and I at Cabrillo Monument, the Westmont girls seated on Lannie's stairs...
I can hardly breathe. Not so much smoke, but so little humidity, and I'm runnung back and forth, lugging stuff, can't swallow...
My pillow, a jug of orange juice, the grapes on the counter...the sudoku book...my tea mug...
Slammed the door, backed down the driveway, (the neighbors are already gone), and headed toward the only exit at Camp Pendelton's back gate.
Carol had called in the morning to say she and Dad were back from their steamboat cruise of the Mississippi. Had a good time and was I OK?
I called her on my cell as I got into the parade of vehicles headed out.
"I'm on my way."
It's usually about two minutes from the house into town.
Half an hour later I got to Main Street. Cars, trucks, RVs, campers... What about the homeless man pushing his grocery cart in the wrong direction from the escape route?
Half an hour after that I got to the Gate at the Naval Weapons Center (about 4 miles from the house). They won't even let military personel go through there at times of high alert. We rolled through, at 2 mph, no ID check, nodding to all the armed men on duty.
Sitting in line, lots of time to try and capture all the racing thoughts in my mind... Glad I have a full tank of gas... Long, long lines of cars waiting to fill up back on Main Street. Damn, forgot the silver, and the quilt on my bed, and four others...
We're going about 7 MPH across the base, armed guards at every intersection...only one way to go. I've missed driving across the base since Mr. C left us in 1995. Never thought I'd get to see it again. Nice, open land...but the brown skies and black smoke billowing behind took much of the joy...
Finally reached I5 ...and it's a parking lot, too. Everyone is leaving San Diego...
And I've got to go potty. Twelve miles to the first exit and no facilities there.
San Diego NPR is reporting on all the latest developments..good to have a link to all the latest info. But you lose the signal at San Clemente...
At last, an exit with a Trader Joe's and Starbucks (bathroom).
Glad to stretch my legs, etc.
Back to the car with a beet salad, some crackers and a decaf latte... Checked in with Carol...it could be a couple more hours...
Spent a pleasant night with Dad and Carol.
Tuesday morning: great Swedish pancakes for breakfast, but no local news...only Malibu fire details (OK, it's LA County).
I've got to get back to SD county. What about my friends and their homes? I'm pretty sure it won't get to my part of town... I want to know what happening... Cindy says I can come to her house in Vista.
Arrived about noon, and we began pacing and watching.
Good Lean Cuisine for lunch. Crunchy veggies with the squash ravioli.
I need something in my hands... Cindy pulled out a bag of yarn and I began knitting...
She tried to embroider the grasshoppers on the smocking for Esly's baby dress. Hard to concentrate... Easy to make a mistake, or two, or...
The mayor says to stay home. No schools, no courts... The I15 is closed...
The sky was so dark...it seemed like five o'clock. Alas, it was 2:30PM.
Knit, knit, knit... Watching, pacing... The winds are roaring. The water-dropping planes can't go up.
Cindy made a beautiful meal of ribeye steaks, white beech mushrooms, sweet potato and broccoli. Fine comfort in the midst of such bewilderment. And an 82% Sharffenberger bar for each of us!
They're filling emergency shelters all over SD...schools, churches, clubs, Qualcom Stadium...
Calls for water, cots, diapers, underwear, socks, food...
Del Mar Fairgrounds will take large animals...they need hay...
Harry the cat isn't sure he wants me to scratch his head.
What's happening in Fallbrook? It's the Rice Canyon fire... It jumped the I15 yesterday, and I'm so concerned for Bill and Ann on the hill just above the west side of the freeway. The map shows the whole place is gone...Pala Mesa Resort/Golf Course, the condos, the palm farms...
Now they say it's gone all the way to Valley Oaks Mobile Park. More friends live there. What about Laura and Luke?
Just days ago (Friday and Saturday), we were all at Cal State San Marcos for the El Camino Quilt Show. Friends and students from Jamul to Murrietta... What about all my SD students?
Will we have class tomorrow? I keep checking the websites for both the colleges. "No classes today. Check the site at 5PM tomorrow..."
The green scarf is finished. It's 8:30Pm. We're exhausted... I have plush yellow towels and a beautiful, cushy bed... I am grateful.
Wednesday morning: what's happened overnight? Where's the fire in Fallbrook?
New fires coming up all over. The winds are lighter and the helicopters and planes can go up.
Knitting, pacing, watching...
Cindy's going down the street to work. Vista is OK. Lots of people want to sell their silver and gold...
But no schools, no courts, no good air for anyone to breathe...
And the day follows with no news about going home. I'm sure my place is going to be fine.
Knitting, pacing, watching...
Harry is beginning to smile at me.
I need to walk or work or something. Will there be class tomorrow?
Cindy came home about 3:30PM. "Do you have cabin fever?"
I'm wearing the same clothes I left with on Monday. Still haven't found my watch.
We went to Oceanside to Barnes and Noble. Book-buying is good therapy.
And we had sushi and tempera for dinner. Raw fish is good therapy.
Getting away from the TV coverage helps. For a couple hours, and then you want to know the latest scoop.
I'm more than halfway through the pink scarf... Twice as long... Long as the interminable fire days...
More fires... More shelters... Enough food, but they need size 1 diapers...
Qualcom offers yoga and meditation classes, AA meetings, childrens' activities...
We should go there for an accupuncture treatment!
So many homes lost... What about Fran's sister, Jolene, in Rancho Bernardo?
Mary Tabar, my friend/fellow Palomar instructor/wonderful fiber artist, left with nothing...
And their home is gone.
What would I do? Where would I go? Could I do all the paperwork to rebuild? Would I want to?
Amanda says she's found a house for me in Boise. I told her I'd been willing to do that in April and I'm over it now.
So glad I'm going there on Friday. Can't wait to see them.
Cindy and I can't stop yawning. What time is it? 7:30PM. Better power it out for a while.
Finally, I know there's no school all week. Good thing. I have nothing.
Cindy's friend, John, has been getting in and out of Fallbrook through a side street. I want to go home.
Good night, Vista. It's 9:30PM.
Thursday morning: the President's coming to RB today. Some of those people have gone home.
Or gone back to what was home.
I'm up at 5:30, teeth brushed and bag packed. I'm going home to get my Rx, and stuff for Boise as soon as it's light.
Love to Cindy and thanks for letting me stay. Nothing better than a great friend to care for you when you've no where no go, nothing to do...
Ashes everywhere. Can't open the car door without them blowing all inside.
I filled the front tire with air as it's gotten flattish in the sitting for three days.
Not many cars on the road. They say we ought to stay indoors with the bad air/particulate.
There are many cars at Mission and 76... Parked in the lot at Daniels, pulled in the dirt shoulders, stopped but the blocked lanes and police cars.
I explain I need meds and papers before I fly.
Sorry, noone's getting in. My case is not unique. Maybe later this afternoon.
I drive back to North River Road for the side streets.
Three attempts at the same story at each blocked road. Three more nos from the Highway Patrol.
I drive off and finally have the good cry I've needed for days.
I'm going back to Vista and Cindy's. At least I can see the news and hear when we can return.
(How did that John get through?)
What am I going to do today? Weary of sitting and knitting. Sick of the disaster news...
Exhausted from wondering who needs help? Not enough word via e-mail...
I'm afraid to see what my beautiful Fallbrook looks like. 206 homes lost... 9000 acres burned so far (20% contained), and the fire's moving toward Riverside County. What about Elvia's house?
I can count at least 40 friends who live in the burn zone. Are their homes standing?
Here I am at my blog for the first time in months/a year?
No time to reread, revise. I'm checking the websites, watching the news for the word to "repopulate" Fallbrook.
Ann called. Bill (who got through with his retired fire badge), had been standing in their kitchen!
He saw that back fires were lit on the road above them. That's the best news for days.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

Toes and Eggs

Amanda and Esly (six weeks), and I had breakfast at Big City in Boise.

I'm one happy Mormor as I watch my girl caring so well for her new babe...

and Andrew loving and caring for them so well...

I'm one sad Mormor without them in my arms each day.

I'm one grateful Mormor for God's grace over us all.