October was the photo-less month. I was looking forward to October, to take beautiful photos of the changing leaves, of all the beautiful colors that autumn has to offer.
I got those colors - in a very different way. Oranges and reds that were roaring and eating through our town's neighborhoods so relentlessly and furiously that they didn't leave anything but rubble and ashes. And smoke. A lot of smoke.
As well as a traumatized community.
A community that lost 5% of its residences, when we already had been in a housing crisis before the fire. Lost homes, lost businesses, lost jobs, and unfortunately also lost lives.
How does a community recover from that?
We're all pulling together right now. There is a lot of kindness among people, but also a lot of anger. But for all of us there is a feeling of "we're getting through this together". These words that I photographed on the door of my local bakery say it all. You find them all over town - on doors to businesses, on lamp posts, on tree trunks.
It will take a long time to get through this, for all of us, whether we have lost a home or not. The fire has impacted all of us.
But we will rise.
I am joining Sarah and Leรณn for Scene and Story.
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The Redwood Credit Union, our local paper The Press Democrat and our State Senator Mike McGuire have set up the North Bay Fire Relief Fund where every donated dollar goes directly to aid relief efforts and help the victims of the fires.
13 comments:
Having visited your area so many times, my heart has broken along with all of you who experienced these fires first hand. You all remain in my prayers.
The solidarity in such circumstances is wonderful to observe and experience. The sign says it all and I only hope that those who have lost so much may find their way back thanks to a loving and altruistic community. My thoughts go out to you all.
You will indeed rise. And soar.
Heartfelt hugs and oceans of caring.
Still sending strength and hope to you and your town and neighbors ... you are going to get to the other side of this sorrow and you'll be better than ever.
love to you, friend.
A tragic scene and a heartbreaking story, Carola. Like so many others, I watched the fires on television with horror while praying for the safety of friends and others in the fires' paths. I grieve with you and your neighbors. It's hard to imagine recovery from such devastation, but I believe that, as the sign says, you WILL rise. Thank you for posting today.
It was so horrible and tragic... It's very nice that everything again coming back to normal.. hugs..
You have been through such an ordeal, I can't even imagine. So many hardships in people's lives, but when it happens to us, I think we have to find a way to be grateful for what we do have.
I am so sorry that you and your community had to go through this - I can't even begin to imagine how devastating it is. When communities come together, neighbor helping neighbor - I do believe that everyone becomes stronger - an you will all rise up together.
My heart breaks for those of you near this tragedy! There seems to be so much tragedy in our country right now! I cannot even imagine what you must be going through! My thoughts and prayers will be with your community!
I am so sorry. There is no way I could even imagine how you and your neighbors feel. I am glad you are seeing kindness among people. I think the only way to get through anything is together...and you all will get through this and rise again.
We spoke to a man last week who used to live in Santa Rosa. He said his former house had burned. It’s difficult to imagine such loss. Good that your community is coming together.
You will pull through, you will get through. But oh, what a heartbreaking time for you and your community -- your whole region. There is so much sadness and with such great loss -- life, property, pets. I fear i would have survivor's guilt as well as great gratitude. Yes, you will survive. But oh, a hard journey.
So horrible what you all went through!!! My thoughts and prayers are with your community!!
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