good people
Last night (in the midst of Mike's snoring) I thought of something I wanted to write about, but alas, all that being woken up and having to go back to sleep has removed it from my brain for the time being…perhaps it will come back to me…
Anyway, oh…I think I remember…click!
The fire is 35% contained now. What good news. They feel they've turned the corner. Many people were able to go home yesterday as well. And watching it all made me cry. I am, as those who know me are well aware, a very emotional person, but this touched me unusually. My emotions welled up for the people who wondered when they left if they'd ever be able to return to their beloved homes. The relief they must have felt to hear those words. Welcome home. For the people who finally got to go back and see what was left. To have to start over again. But they have their lives and families and friends. For the people who still don't know if they have a home to go back to. The agony they must go through daily with the wondering. For the people who are still in the shelters waiting, wondering, hoping. For the people who have put their lives on hold to help strangers just because it's the right thing to do. There are very good people here. Makes me proud to be an Arizonan.
For those of you watching from other places, I know you get the news and probably see what's going on, but here it is really the only story. The majority of the local newscasts is devoted to this. Everything else is afterthought. It has been devastating, but not as devastating as it could have been. The firefighters have worked tirelessly. The people in the evacuation shelters have been working day in and day out. One said something to the effect of, it's a 24 hour job for me because for them it's a 24 hour ordeal.
35% contained. For many, it's over. For others, the waiting continues. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And that's a good thing.
