This has been a scary, sad and difficult time for many of us living in California. The weekend of August 15th brought nearly 14,000 lightning strikes, igniting more than 840 wildfires. Resources to combat the blazes have been stretched very thin. Over 1.4 million acres have burned, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to evacuate, and thousands of structures were lost.

The Carmel and River fires weren’t far from our home, and we were blanketed in thick grey smoke for more than two weeks. Dozens of people in our community—including two family friends—lost homes. Thankfully, those two fires are finally contained, but many others are still going strong.

When lightning storms and high winds were forecast for the weekend of August 22, our house was in the evacuation warning zone, which meant that we needed to be prepared to leave at any time. Those requiring additional time to evacuate, and those with pets or livestock, were advised not to wait.

With our three big farm dogs—none of them leash-trained, and one geriatric and in diapers—my husband and I decided that it was wiser to pack up and relocate to our office in Carmel rather than potentially face a midnight scramble if things got bad. Preparing for the worst while hoping for the best, we boxed up our passports, checks, jewelry and most important legal documents, and I filled one suitcase with clothes and necessities to last a couple of weeks. Then I meandered through our home, filling a file box with special mementoes in case everything went up in flames—our kids’ baby books, a sampling of their childhood artwork, a Polaroid album of my pregnancies, an old photo of my grandfather that my dad had always kept close, my daughter’s “We’re Next!” CD, and a signed photo of my husband and me with President Barack Obama.

Having had a house we loved in Big Sur burn to the ground in a wildfire in 2013, losing a home packed with irreplaceable family treasures is not just theoretical for me. Even though I knew it was unlikely to happen again, I had to accept that there was a chance I was saying goodbye to the home we’d lived in for more than thirty-six years, as well as almost everything we’d accumulated during our lifetimes.

The fires, on top of COVID, remind me that the sense of control I try to maintain in my life is ultimately an illusion. No matter how much infrastructure and scientific advances human beings create, we are still animals living on planet Earth, subjected to forces much greater than our own. I am trying to use this time of extreme upheaval to learn to be more flexible, foster a good sense of humor, and remember to appreciate every comfort, especially the love and camaraderie of family and friends.

I am feeling extraordinarily grateful to each and every firefighter for their arduous, brave, and generous work. They are true heroes that have taken on an extremely demanding and dangerous job to protect us all.

As we approach Labor Day, I also want to express gratitude and praise for our vital and valiant essential workers by sharing a beautiful music video—Good Job—that Alicia Keys and the Robin Hood Relief Fund created to praise essential workers, as well as raise money for COVID relief.

Lastly, I want to share an article I recently wrote for Spirituality & Health Magazine, “Becoming a Grownup in Middle Age.” I chose the title when I realized that for me, growing up hasn’t been about reaching a certain age as much as it’s been about finally feeling like I have the insights and practical tools I need to take good care of myself, both emotionally and physically.

Wishing everyone health, safety, and a joyous holiday weekend,

Myra

Giving Thanks for the Heroes Among Us