So I was soon hosting seven people and three dogs. Jane's husband Tom works at the Veteran's Home in the Napa Valley. He drove into work with flames on either side of him and had the task of making the decision when and how to evacuate over 1000 old and infirm veterans.
So you can see that the week started in stressful manner. We tried to get updates on the fire. There were rumors flying around. The whole of Glen Elen had burned, just north of my daughter's house and business. The fire was five percent contained. That meant 95 percent uncontained. Real horror stories started to come in. Granddaughter Lizzie's friend's house and winery burned down. Then another. Other friends fled for their lives and didn't know if their houses were standing or not. We heard that the fire fighters were making a stand on Jane's fire on Madrone Road. We looked on the map. Madrone Road was just a block north of the swim center she owns. And if the winds picked up again the firefighters wouldn't be able to make a stand anywhere.
I told them I was going to cancel Bouchercon and stay with them. Don't be silly, my daughter said. You can't stop the flames. You go and enjoy yourself. They insisted. I went, but enjoying myself was not easy. When I was actually on a panel or having a meal with my agent, editor or publicist I forgot to think for a while. The moment I was free the phone came out and I was searching for updates. Ten percent contained. Winds expected to pick up. Fell asleep exhausted and worried. Grabbed the phone first thing the next morning. No real news. No real progress. Another day of worry.
And in between the worry were moments of pure joy.
There were publisher parties and time to hang out at the bar (for the others. I was in my room phoning home!) and on Saturday came our Jungle Reds game show. This time it was called Name That Red. A statement was read out about the life of one of us and we each claimed it was us. And it turned out we were darned good liars... including Red Lucy's description of her Olympic luge training and Ingrid claiming she had done ski jumping in Denmark (which happens to be one of the flattest countries in the world). I successfully fooled the audience several times, convincing them that I had had my teeth cleaned by a murdering dentist, that I had lived next to Jane Austen's house. And they didn't believe that I could have been a leading light in the theater in Conroe, Texas. True.
The audience laughed, shouted out and were awarded prizes. I don't know who had a better time, us or them. We even had to face a paparazzi onslaught before we started our panel!
I arrived home to good news. The evacuation order had been lifted. Our family went home this evening to a house with power restored (but no TV. Howls of disbelief) Jane's swim club survived, with just a huge clean up needed: the pool was full of ash and leaves and stagnation from a week with no filtration. But her staff is coming in at seven in the morning and she hopes to open again on Wednesday to help restore normalcy to a stricken community. Alas there will be some people for whom life will not be normal again for years. I'm not sure what to do to help. They have more volunteers than they can use. More donated items than they can handle right now.
On long plane rides I had time to think and I wondered what I would take from an approaching fire: good jewelry? Precious photo albums. We have many antiques from John's family: Chinese plates, a Queen Anne desk, a crusader's sword. They'd all have to be left to burn. And I have a copy of each of my books. I couldn't take them either. So I think of all those poor people who left behind treasures and souvenirs that can never been replaced. Such a heartbreaking time.
And I wonder: : what would you save from an approaching fire?
Thank you for sharing the great pictures and telling us about Bouchercon. It sounds so fantastic. [And I’m drooling over lobster grilled cheese . . . .]
ReplyDeleteFire makes me feel sooooo helpless, Rhys . . . and this was/is such a devastating catastrophe. But it’s wonderful to hear that your family is safe and your daughter’s home and business survived.
After making certain all the people were out of the house, what would I take?
My Bible. The hand-carved Lord’s Prayer made by a distant relative, a treasure handed down through several generations of our family. Any pictures of the children and grandchildren that I could grab.
The more I think about it, the bigger the list gets: my Alan Bean lithographs, a painting done by jazz pianist/singer/actor Bobby Troup . . . .
It’s so hard to choose. Would I want to lose the jewelry that belonged to my mom? What about all my treasured books?
Yes, they say that it’s all just stuff, and I know it is . . . but it’s painful just to think about losing all the things that hold such special meaning for our family.
I really hope and pray it’s a decision I won’t ever have to make . . . .
Wonderful pictures, Rhys and so thankful that your family is safe. It looks like a wonderful time was had by all at Bouchercon, stressful though it was for you. Did you notice that no matter how much news you received, it never quite answered the questions you had.
ReplyDeleteMy family ran from Hurricane Irma this September. It was a run because the hurricane turned toward us at the last minute and the future cast radar showed our house was to be in the eyewall. We have what is estimated to be a 500 year old oak outside our kitchen door. If it went, so would the house. So, with the winds mounting, we had to leave. I remember the feeling. Standing in the bedroom throwing clothes in a duffel bag knowing it could be the last time I would see the house. Wondering what mattered so much that it would matter if I would never see it or touch it again. In the end, we took the folder with our insurance papers, necessary clothes, our cats, birds, laptops, and a plaque lettered with positive thoughts.
We were lucky, our home was intact when we returned, the old oak lost lots of limbs but they managed to do minimal damage to the house and other structures on their way down.
I'm so sorry you had to go through this, Kait and you must have felt so relieved when you saw the oak tree still standing! Rhyd
DeleteRhys, I'm so glad that your daughter's home and business were spared. I am sure that you did spend much time being worried at Bouchercon, but I'm glad you were able to have some fun, too.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was always so scared of a fire, because when she was a young woman and lived with her mother, a fire destroyed their home and everything except one piece of furniture, a drop-leaf table, which was by the door. That table now sits in my foyer, and it means the world to me, as it did to my mother. So, since it is near my front doors, it is the one piece of furniture I would try to get out. There are other antiques and pieces of furniture I love, but there's no doubt that the table my mother saved would be the one I want to save.
I have a binder with our important documents in them, so I would try to grab that. I might try to take some photos off the wall and tables. Other items, if time, would include my mother's antique salt glaze blue pitcher, a few special books, and a painting of a pair I am especially fond of. And, as it is the time in history that it is, I would grab my laptop and cell phone, with chargers.
Kathy, the binder is an excellent idea. I'll do that!
DeleteI have plastic sleeves in it to slip the documents into, and so I can easily find whatever I need.
DeleteWell, as my husband and I sit in our car with our three cats, I can tell you we had no time to do anything but evacuate. I'm recovering from foot/ankle surgery and can't put any weight on my foot. There are 16 steps from the house to the driveway, and we wouldn't have made it out if our neighbors hadn't come to our rescue.
ReplyDeleteI grabbed the book I'm reading, my phone, a clean nightgown and my pain meds. My husband got his toothbrush and toothpaste and iPad.
The call to evacuate came at 11:30 pm, and now we're trying to find a place to spend the night. Grateful as can be for each other, our neighbors and all the firefighters, first responders and volunteers who are dealing with these fires.
So very sorry for your losses Lynda, how terrifying to be incapacitated and need to rush out. This is what we'd heard too--that the fires came too quickly for people to gather precious belongings. Thank goodness you got out--and with the cats! and your book!
DeleteLynda... that is terrifying. 16 steps...
DeleteThat is horrifying Lynda. Fingers crossed that your house is safe, and you will be home soon.
DeleteI can't imagine how frightening and worrying that must be, Lynda. Hope all is well.
DeleteLynda, how scary. Hoping your home stays safe, and that you and your little family does, as well.
DeleteOH Lynda, how terrible for you! At least there are more first responders now with a good chance of stopping the spread of fire. I pray you can return home soon
DeleteLynda, how awful. So hoping your house is safe and that you can return home soon.
DeleteLynda, what a nightmare for you! Being incapacitated in such a terrifying situation is beyond frightening. I so hope that you and yours are back in your home soon where you can recover from foot/ankle surgery as well as your ordeal. You made me think of something obvious I left off of my list to take, medications.
DeleteHow frightening, Lynda . . . I hope the fire stays away from your house and that all will be well . . . .
DeleteLynda, wishing you all the best. That kind of call has to be terrifying.
ReplyDeleteWe chatted in the lobby, Rhys, on the first day, and you seemed shell shocked, talking about the fire. What a blessing Jane and family and friends were all right and didn't lose their houses.
What would I take besides cats, necessary electronics, and prescriptions? My grandmother's journal and my grandfather's diaries, both from the early 1900s, I guess, plus a few favorite pictures of my sons. I hope never to have to evacuate!
Oh, scary, Lynda! I hope everything and everyone comes through safely. And I'm so glad your family came out all right, Rhys, and you had space to take the refugees in. I used to think about this question when I lived out in the country, and wild fires were a real threat. I was not practical in my planning, like Kathy, with her binder of important papers. I would take the critters first: I currently have four dogs, three cats, and only one small car, but I've figured out how to get all the animals into it, so I think I'm okay there. Then, silly as it may seem, I'd take my quilts. Some of them I made; some were handed down to me, but all are precious and also useful in an emergency. But then what? A duffel with a change of clothes, I guess, if I had time, but my writing would be lost, and so would Warren's. There are so many things still in boxes around my house that I'm not sure I could even put together a "take" pile if I had a couple of hours notice. So heartbreaking to have to face that reality. My love goes out to all of you who have, and do.
ReplyDeleteWriting can be saved to the cloud, and so can photos. Modern day life has a couple of benefits.
DeleteGigi, I love that you've figured out how to get all your fur babies into your car. And, I don't think saving quilts is silly at all, especially ones that have special significance.
DeleteI guess what I would save from an approaching fire would depend on how much time I had to get stuff to save.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely grab the appropriate papers I needed to access insurance, bank accounts etc. I live alone so I don't have to worry about grabbing stuff for family members or pets either.
Again, given enough time, I'd probably grab clothes so I don't have to walk around like I had started practicing nudism or spend money buying new clothes.
If I'm being honest, I'd probably want to grab at least some of my books/DVDs/Music if that was possible. I know it likely isn't but replacing some of the stuff would be nearly impossible.
But important documents and clothes would be the biggest must haves.
That was the problem, Jay. Most folk had no time. My daughter was told by her husband as he drove to work"there are flames on either side of me. Get out now!"
DeleteYes, in that case it would be the important documents and the clothes then.
DeleteRhys, so very very glad they all came out of the fires ok. And so glad you came to Toronto--we would have missed you terribly!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Lucy! So glad I got to see you
DeleteI wasn't even at home when my second fire burned down my house. Total loss. The worst part was my dog. Everything was gone. Don't even want to think about if it were to happen again. I wouldn't be able to get my kitties but my dog would follow me. Hope I'd be able to grab a coat and shoes. But this is why I don't sleep in the nude!
ReplyDeleteJudi, how dreadful! Do you keep a go-bag, just in case?
DeleteI sort of do now. I keep my pocketbook where I can grab it going out the door. And a small lock-box with important papers including passwords. My laptop is right there too if I have the presence of mind to grab it. I do need to include a list of my prescriptions. I don't think I take anything that would be life threatening if I missed a day or 2. In March when we had 39" of snow and I could not get out and no one could get in (although phone and power stayed on, thank goodness!) my son knew that I was most worried about fire. He gave me what I think is pretty good advice: get your boots and coat and GET OUT. The dog will follow. Go far enough away that you aren't in danger of the fire but stay close enough to keep warm!
DeleteMy daughter also lives in Sonoma. She was worried all weekend. She'd worn her mother's rings to the convention, so those were safe. She'd packed a bag with her work computer and a few other things for her husband to grab if he had to evacuate. He was also to grab the cat. She didn't trust him to grab the bag, but she knew he'd get the cat.
ReplyDeleteThat's a man worth marrying.
DeleteAmen to that.
DeleteI hope she also came home to good news, Bill. I would have given you an extra hug if I had known. And I certainly wouldn't trust my husband to rescue the right things!
DeleteI have my "Katrina" box in the front hall closet with all our important documents.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your worries, Rhys. But I'm glad everybody is okay.
ReplyDeleteI move so slowly, there are many things I'd want to take and I'd probably not have time to get any of them.
Mary/Liz
I attended both your panels at Bouchercon and to see you and the other Reds made my week, so I for one am very glad you came! I would never have guessed you were enduring such worries and am so glad that your daughter's business did not sustain too much damage. Thoughts are with everyone else suffering out there in California. Greetings from the UK!
ReplyDeleteI wish you'd introduced yourself, fellow Brit. I'd love to meet a battle axe!
DeleteI'm far too shy! (so not really much of a battleaxe either!)
DeleteFascinated by Margaret's "Katrina box" of documents...
ReplyDeleteWhat should go in it??
This is reminding me of something I keep intending to do, which is write up a IF I GET HIT BY A BUS letter which says where all the important documents, bank accounts, etc. are and what doesn't look like it's valuable but is... etc.
Brilliant, Hallie! Given the male refrigerator blindness at my house, I'd likely have to include where the ketchup and mustard are in that document. LOL.
DeleteOh yikes. I need to do that, too, Hallie. I use an authenticator app that has all my passwords and Rick has the master password, but if something should happen to both of us, my daughter should have it, too.
DeleteHallie, the "If I Get Hit By A Bus" letter is a brilliant idea. Since I do all of the bill paying and banking, it should be a necessity. I have left a written list of insurance policies and major passwords, like to the bank, before when I traveled, but a more permanent document is a much better way to go.
DeleteRhys, we were so happy to have you with us in Toronto!! And relieved to hear your near and dear are safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteRhys and Lynda, it has been horrifying just to see the devastation--and I can't imagine how shell-shocked the survivors must be. I live in tornado country--so the thought has crossed my mind about what I would try to save in the event of a disaster. The boys and their cats.I do have a folder of important papers (it needs updating). And most of my important photos--the ones that mean the most to me, have been scanned and reside in albums on facebook. But I'm going to save a copy to a flashdrive, along with my writing. And that can go in my folder as well. And well I know that stuff is just stuff--but like Kathy Reel, I have a set of Blue Willow plates that were all that was left when my grandparents' house burned and there is a quilt that my mom and I worked on together--framed artwork from the boys--all their musical instruments--pianos aren't too portable. Si I sit here counting my blessings and give what I can to help those who have suffered in the Sonoma fires.
ReplyDeleteRhys, it was lovely to see you in Toronto, and Julie is delighted with Farleigh Fields and all the Easter eggs she is finding in it!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy your daughter and her friends homes and properties seem to have survived the fire.
What would I save? Julie first, then the dogs, Toby and Penny Lane, Eliot the hellicat, my phone because it is always at hand and can fit in my pocket.
ReplyDeleteWhile at Bouchercon, while I was deep in the basement somewhere, sitting in on some panel,the fire alarms went off. Not one single soul got up and left. Except Rhys, who walked down from the 14th floor. It is good to know one of us here is sensible.
Well done, Rhys!
DeleteMy wife. Everything else is replaceable.
ReplyDeleteHallie, we have a "bus" document that we update every year or so for our two sons. It gives us some peace of mind to know that they'd be in as good a position as possible to deal with stuff. We also have a little metal box that has our wills, POAs, and other key documents. I guess that's similar to Margaret's Katrina box.
So glad your daughter and her family are okay, Rhys! And I'm so glad you made it to Bcon. Our panel was a hoot!
ReplyDeleteI love Hallie's idea of a "hit by a bus document." If we had to evacuate, I'd grab the paperwork and some old photos, but most of our photos are on the cloud, so no worries on that front. We'd want to take the fish, but that would be tricky!
I can't even imagine what those of you or your family members have gone through in the face of fires and hurricanes. The worst I've ever faced was an inside flood from a broken washing machine hose and another from a rusted cast iron pipe inside a wall; messy but not life-threatening in any way. What would I grab? My cat, for sure, and my iPhone and iPad and I hope I'd have the good sense to grab important papers. But I'm not as organized as Kathy and Margaret so that might be a challenge. Something to think about, as is Hallie's "hit by a bus" document.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the greetings yesterday!
It's easy to see the truly important things from everyone's first answer - and from Kait, Lynda and Judi's real-life experience. You take the people and the animals. As awful as it is to lose cherished belongings, in the end, they're just stuff. The only irreplaceable items are your loved ones - two- and four-legged!
ReplyDeleteRhys, this has been a hell of a year for you, my dear. I hope life is done putting you through the wringer for a good long while. So glad to know Jane and her family are okay.
ReplyDeleteWhen I sold insurance (70's and 80's) I always advised my clients to take photos of their possessions, and to keep them somewhere besides the house. In the event of a fire or a tornado or other disaster, it's vital to be able to show proof of the extent of your loss. I used to teach classes on disaster preparedness, too, back in the day. Things have changed a lot since then!
Now, though, it's easier to keep family photos, documents, and photos of your belongings in the cloud, where it is easily accessed from the phone you are most likely to have next to you or on your person if you need to hastily evacuate. Everyone, including me, should make sure they've done this. You can take photos of necessary documents, too, like insurance papers, deeds, car registrations, receipts, etc. It's good to have the actual documents, too, but vital to have copies. When we had our wills and other documents redone last year, our attorney gave us a USB stick with all the documents on it. It can go in both the cloud and a go box.
A few years ago, a friend who came thisclose to losing everything in the Nashville flood (her home was surrounded by water, but she got lucky) blogged about having a "go bag". There are a lot of websites with lists of what to have handy for emergencies. But having a bag ready, possibly in the trunk of the car, can make a difference in whether or not that split second of decision results in disaster. Make sure you have some way to keep your phone charged, too.
In addition to a go box, I also have containers of water (three gallons per person), space blankets, emergency food that won't spoil, and first aid stuff. At the farm, which is an hour from any hospital, I have more serious first aid things, like burn ointments and tourniquets and splints. Most of this stuff is in the basement, since we live in tornado territory. Our tenants may end up needing to bug out to our basement there, since they both live in mobile homes without any real shelter. We also have a solar weather radio/charger at each home, and I keep a mobile charger topped up at all times.
And my shoes are always next to the bed. My husband will be barefoot, but I am not going to have cold feet!
I want to be at your house in the next emergency, Karen!
DeleteThanks, but I still feel as though I'm not ready. Are we ever?
DeleteWhen the house next door caught fire, my aunt carefully rescued her husband's bowling ball. Not what most of us thought would be a most precious possession.
ReplyDeleteThat is book worthy - I mean there has to be a story there, right?
DeleteI love this. Did anyone ask her why?
DeleteRhys, your week sounds like mine in many ways. As you know, I woke up to a text from my sister-in-law that they were safe but their house was gone. I spent the week trying to follow the news from 400 miles away in So Cal.
ReplyDeleteWhere our weeks differed was work. I'm so glad you were able to relax and have some fun while working. I was dealing with what would normally be a crazy busy week at work, but it was even worse than normal. I'm so glad that week is behind me.
I should mention my parents were evacuated all week, but were finally able to return home Sunday night.
DeleteMark, so sorry to hear that your sister lost her house.
DeleteMark, I've been keeping up with your news on Facebook and I'm so sorry your brother and his wife lost their house, but glad all people in your life are safe. Waiting for news and worrying are all consuming, aren't they?
DeleteRhys
Thank you both. I'm so glad everyone is safe as well.
DeleteRhys, you were so graceful and lovely during all of your personal stress. I am truly so very impressed with you. This has been such a year of devastation and so many people have lost so much. It truly does boggle. I can't imagine what I would grab if there was a fire. I imagine the Hub, the Hooligans and I would each grab a pet and run for it. The nice thing about the age we live in is that all of my family photos and videos are digitized and on a cloud somewhere - those would be the only things I would grab beyond my people and pets. I'd miss my collection of books, my art, and the Hub's guitars, but in the end, none of it really matters (I bet Hub would beg to differ - LOL)!
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear how your family and friends were affected by these horrible fires. Medications and a cell phone charger.
ReplyDeleteRhys, I am so glad Jane and family are okay and their house was spared. And I'm certainly glad you came to Bouchercon!!!
ReplyDeleteWe live in tornado country, so we try to keep go bags updated, but the thing about tornadoes is that you have NO TIME. Whenever there is a bad storm we get portable radios, cell phone chargers, and keep the dogs on leashes. I don't know how we'd find all three cats and get them in carriers in that kind of emergency.
Assuming I had a little time, I'd take my computer, and then try to think about what is not replaceable. A couple of my vintage quilts (one rescued from a fire sale when a neighbor's house burned to the ground,) the oil portraits of my brother and me when we were kids, an original painting by my cousin. At least a couple of my journals. But nothing is as important as people and the pets.
Rhys ~~ Small world time. My daughter's step mother is one of the Chaplains at the VA center you mentioned. Like all the other veterans she evacuated and last I heard is safe. I lived in Sonoma County in the 1970's and mourn along with everyone else the loss of lives, homes and businesses. A truly tough year for all of us.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of hurricane season, I try to update my go bag. This year we added cases if water to our kit. I am planning to purchase a safety deposit box to keep all my documents and photos of the household contents. I figure the bank is a more secure building than my home. One does hope. As far as grabbing things. sentient beings first unless the property is flaming. Then the kid + me and the rest is back to Buddha.
Thank you for sharing the photos from Toronto. Your grace under pressure is inspiring
Rhys, Julie requests a series based on Farliegh Field. She really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteNot a series, Ann but I may well revisit those characters. I'm glad she enjoyed it
DeleteHow sad for people to lose everything and pets. How sad to live in a place that requires people “be prepared” to evacuate quickly. I scanned through the responses and the folder of important papers is a good idea. Just in general. In case of....anything unexpected. I think I’d grab electronic devices with chargers, purse, prescriptions, family and as many pets as we could squeeze in! Everything else is inconsequential.
ReplyDeleteRhys, when I saw you at Bouchercon, I wanted to give you a hug. I almost cancelled going to Bouchercon too. I woke up at 2 am in the morning smelling smoke. Though we could not see the fires, we could smell the smoke from the fires.
ReplyDeleteWhat would I grab if there was a fire? I have a bag of emergency supplies ready to go at any time. That's what I would grab. I have a portable fire ladder that we can use if we have to escape from my balcony instead of going out the front door.
Diana
Rhys, what a worrisome ordeal you and your family have been through. I'm so glad you are all safe and sound. I love the idea posted by Karen of Ohio. How practical is that, to store all the important info "in the cloud."
ReplyDelete