Resident_Pixie: What a few days you have had! Glad that you and your family are all ok - and hey, a few unplanned at DL, yay!
Roses: A day off from school is always nice, but yeah, sometimes not so great. Hope all is good.
Pirate_Anya: Stay safe.
A few of you have asked me questions in game and I am a bit unsure how much I can or cant say so I just thought I'd update you here:
- We are still safe, although stressed. I have been watching the news close to 24 hours a day for 3 days (probably too much) to keep track of the fire nearest to us.
- We are close enough to think about a plan, but not close enough to have been affected yet - and hopefully won't be.
- I've packed a few things, but resisting the urge to pack the whole place pre-maturely.
- I have photographed the entire house.
- I cannot see flames from my house. (Thankfully.) My mantra for the week? "no wind no wind"
- The air outside is nasty. I usually have the windows open all day and my dog goes in and out from the yard all day as he pleases. Today he is under "house arrest" because we just aren't comfortable with him breathing the outside air all day.
- There is ash in the air, on the ground, on the car, etc....
- The authorities are fairly certain we are in the tense situation due to an arsonist who intentionally set this fire. There are no words. There is a $70,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person / people responsible.
I think that answers most of the questions some of you have asked me in game that I am just not sure how much I can answer there. Thanks for your concern and best wishes. Oh, and the answer to my favorite question: No, I have not ventured out to see W. or Schwarzenegger, but thanks for asking - you gave me a giggle.
And if I may just share: It is true that making sure our family, friends, and pets are safe is of course the most important thing, but when you are sitting in your house thinking, "What should I try to save?" it is a bit surreal. I am not beyond admitting that I like my book collection, my Disney collectibles, my artwork collection, our collection of all things Eiffel Tower. The list goes on and on. Sure, if I had to grab 1 "thing" and run, without question it's my angel, my pup. Although, when you have time to think about, "What do I want to take that can fit in 1 car?" it's amazing how overwhelmed you can suddenly feel. I cannot even imagine what those like Resident_Pixie have been through.
Several of you have kept me company in game the last few days, helped keep my mind busy, and have just let me get some nervousness out around you in a variety of way. Thanks for being there. It's odd - you can't really turn to your nearby friends in a time like this because they are all going through the same thing. How lucky am I to have friends around the globe from a little virtual game that I can get support from? Funny how life is sometimes.
I know there are others out there in the same situation as I, as well as worse. My thoughts and heartfelt hopes for everyone affected in anyway during these tense events. May you, your friends, your loved ones, and yes, even your "stuff" be okay.
Wishes and thoughts for the absolute best to everyone,
Dreams