Photo by dveliAt 5:00 this morning I woke up to the sound of Kyle crying. He was very upset in his bed because he had a “donut flying in the sky.” That was all he would say as he sobbed, and then he fell back to sleep as I rubbed his back.
I staggered back to bed, and on my way I noticed a campfire smell in our house. My first thought was that we must have left something on and therefore our house was slowing burning down. But that thought happens a lot around here, and the relief comes when I think “Oh, it’s just another brush fire.”
This is how jaded I’ve become. “Just another brush fire” has to be one big ass fire for it to smell like that inside my house. You’ve probably seen the news by now. There are fires all over southern California (welcome, Kelli!) and many people have lost their homes. Whenever one happens close to us the air becomes toxic and I worry about the boys – their little pink lungs breathing in all of that additional pollution. The ash snows down on us during the brief moments we are outside – the mad dash between the front door and the car.
I packed them up and headed to Auntie Lisa’s, where the kids tried to dismantle her beautiful house one tiny piece at a time. We went out to play at Griffith Park, but the smoke made its way over there and I gave up trying to avoid it. They’re sleeping now, and I am sitting here trying to think of fond camping memories instead of vaporized two by fours and family portraits.
I’ve heard news reports of arson and looting. I can’t even go there. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy about capital punishment.
Living in Granada Hills, I packed up the kids at 8am, ran to the car with burning eyes, and checked into a hotel in Manhattan Beach. We spent a blissful day enjoying the clear blue beach skies, only to have the sky turn orange and smelly with smoke. Urgh. So awful. So, do I stay in the hotel where my kids are being totally obnoxious and I have no escape, or go back home where I can hide out in my room or put on a video? Humm…
Love that last line!(chuckle)
i was wondering if this was near you. hope you all stay safe!
Yikes – so scary. Glad you are safe, if smoky, and hoping you stay that way (safe, not smoky) – sorry for all those who have lost their homes and possessions.
Man – That stinks. Sorry. Bad pun not really intended. JaxGrandma’s neighborhood still allows leaf burning, and my neighbors across the street have started their purpetual wood burning fireplace use which annoys me and makes me jealous at the same time. I cannot imagine the fear of knowing that the smoke smells are from real fire burning out of control. We will pray for you, your lungs, and your neighbors in the greater so. Cali area.
I’ve been following these fires even more closely than usual knowing that I’m headed your way in just a few days.
So very different from the East Coast!
hi Friend. First, congrats for blogging on FB! Second, i am fascinated by the photo you included. We only had a couple days that were smoky this summer due to the Santa Cruz Mtn fires. I think of you every time I hear that LA is on fire. Stay safe and imagine Big Sur.
One more reason to move back east, eh? I laughed at Kyle’s dream. Luke has said some silly things like that after waking up crying. I should have written them down, because now I can’t remember them. Boo.