Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The voices in my head

I'm finally starting to feel like we won't have to evacuate. The air is still full of soot, and there are drifts of ash on the driveway and patio, but the fires aren't nearly so close as they were. I actually slept last night, instead of doing the light snooze/keeping an ear out for evacuation orders kind of sleep I've been doing. Rick's on his way home from the airport right now, and that's the last thing I need to feel like everything is going to be normal again.

Of course, I still have to finalize the decision not to go to a family wedding in Houston this weekend. To be honest, I'm very clear on the decision: I don't want to leave my house right now. It's the bit where I have to tell my parents that I'm dreading. They SO want us to be there, and when I said last night that I thought we probably wouldn't make it, there was a lot of "surely it'll be fine by then" talk going on. I'll just have to keep saying this out loud. Clearly.

Before going to sleep last night, I savored the sense of feeling safer. I think I'm ready for a funny movie (I don't know about you, but there comes a time after stress when I need to laugh). Maybe The Gods Must be Crazy? It turns out I have a very juvenile sense of humor that is entertained by people falling down stairs and into lakes. Besides which, that movie has one of the greatest lines of all times, when one woman turns to another in a crowded cafeteria and asks, "Do the voices in my head bother you?" That's how I feel right now -- I'm hoping that the voices in my head aren't bothering you all. But they need to go somewhere, and here is where they're going.

A friend of mine and her family are staying with us now. They've been evacuated, and while they're house is still OK as of this point, the fires are still close and they can't get to their home. The web sites keep saying that my town is potentially threatened, but I'm feeling safer. OK, I've circled around to the beginning again, so I'm going to knit more. Pictures of Kauni soon, I promise.

9 comments:

ikkinlala said...

I'm glad you're not having to evacuate. I'd send you some of our rain if I could. (I shouldn't complain. Today has been nice. The past couple of weeks have been soggy.)

Anne said...

I'm glad Rick will be there soon. I'm sure that will help everyone feel better. And I hope your parents will hear your voice ... even through their wish to see you all in a place with no fires.

Marianne said...

I'm so glad you posted an update and I SO hope you won't need to evacuate..that of course, the fires will stay away and really.. burn themselves out or something.

I'm with you and I LOVE that movie!
(I also hope your folks realize just how serious this all has been/is.. and they'll hear your voice...and understand.

adrienne said...

i was happy to see the weather report this am that the winds were going to die down.

it is good to hear that you are safe.

Tracy said...

I'm glad to hear that things seem to be taking a turn for the better. Keep us posted!

hopalong682003 said...

We got a call last night at 3:30 a.m., and I was sure it was to evacuate. It turns out that it was a wrong number, but my heart pounded for about 30 minutes. Luckily Temecula has been safe...except there were two arson fires this afternoon that were put out quickly. Stay safe!!!

Stell said...

good news and some times you have to do what is right for you, not for family - however hard it is for them to hear that. one of my 'must watch' movies is TGMBC, love the simple fx, and whenever it is rerunning, it is must see tv.

Anonymous said...

Just the fact that a friend and her family is needing the shelter you're able to provide, let alone the fires which are still burning should give your folks understanding that this is not the time. The wedding will proceed without your presence.

You did a great job thinking ahead and being prepared! That is the major part of the battle; knowing the steps and actions to take.

Anonymous said...

Just the fact that a friend and her family is needing the shelter you're able to provide, let alone the fires which are still burning should give your folks understanding that this is not the time. The wedding will proceed without your presence.

You did a great job thinking ahead and being prepared! That is the major part of the battle; knowing the steps and actions to take.