News Archive

News Archive

From the ashes

Posted by Christine Jensen on 18 Nov 2008

News just in from the Jensens in southern California, where wildfires have destroyed hundreds of homes.

We just wanted to let you know that despite the heat this end of the world, we are all alright...

The ash fell steadily since Sam’s football game on Saturday morning. But it’s easing up here, the wind has shifted direction and it’s back to blue sky again in La Mirada. There was a really eerie light as a result of the sun being covered by the immense clouds of ash, but it’s dissipating.

This season (it does feel like LA’s version of a white Christmas – featuring "Ash" as "Snow"), the fire has been closer, a lot closer than before (about the same distance as a roasty-toasty dry Heaton to a tinder-like Tynemouth). So when we headed off to church on Saturday night, into the acrid smell of a giant bonfire, I felt a little bit apprehensive knowing that the winds had been sending burning embers flying over two miles and starting new fires. Phil, (my faith-filled hubby), didn’t worry at all!  Sam and Eve were blithely running through the ash on the drive making dust trails to the car. Church was pretty empty, lots of firefighters, emergency services people and folks with houses, businesses, schools and family close to the fire lines. 

It really does make you think. What’s really important? No, really? What would life look like if we had nothing, if it was all burned by the fire; house, stuff, work, job, records… what would remain when all that’s left is ashes?  
 
Over a big bowl of warming soup yesterday, Phil, Sam, Eve and I discussed what (after making sure all of us were OK) we would take from our house if we had to run for it. Just so you know then: Sam would take his long-time-saved-up-for and newly purchased money box (it’s an ATM machine, wall mounted, with all the sounds and buttons - I know, only in America eh?!), and his two mini-mice that live in his bed. Eve would take Leo (her lion-teddy) and her pillow. Phil would take as many books as he could carry, and his laptop (we all said he was in denial and that the guitar would have to come too!). Me? I’d rush to get the kids' baby books (irreplaceable) and my computer (because it holds all our photos for the last 18 months).

As for the rest?...  It’s freeing isn’t it. Stuff is just stuff in the end. No pockets in shrouds and all that.