Windstorm Twenty-Eleven

Hello friends, I hope you made it through the windstorm safely. Tamara and several friends of Zinnia were left without power for a few days. There were trees fallen all over the place. There is literally damage to almost every tree on EVERY street in South Pasadena and Pasadena. The San Gabriel Valley was hit hard and I sincerely hope you are getting back to your normal. I personally had my own drama that could have changed my life. I don't want to be overly dramatic but I don't think there is any chilled way to talk about it.
Let me start with the fact that I am fine and so are my fur-children, Sugar, Louie and Chilly. I am fairly organized therefore prepared. I had my flashlight and shoes near the bed. It was just after midnight and I had settled into bed. The winds were blowing like crazy. Suddenly the power goes out. My first thought was, no problem. Then, instantly I heard and saw an amazing explosion of lights. No problem, I thought, let me get up and check it out. BAM!!! All I could see out the window to the back yard was a wall of fire. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. The wires sparked a fire that caught the bamboo and trees in the far end of my yard on fire. Needless to say that was the biggest Oh @hit moment of my life. There was no time, I HAD to get out. Almost immediately the neighborhood was buzzing. The neighbors came pounding at my door screaming that I needed to get out. They were frantic and with a sense of urgency that can’t be described. The fire was massive and it was in my back yard and only was threatening my house. I opened the front door to let a lady on my porch know I was getting out, they thought I was asleep. I was frantic and every attempt to try to get the harness on Sugar failed. My hands were shaking and my thoughts were all over the place. The woman at the door, who I later learned is Cecilia took Sugar and ran with him. She told me to get going… but my cats, Louie and Chilly had run for cover and I could not find them in the dark. I grabbed the items that I have always filed in my head as the MUST things to grab in a fire. I looked frantically for Louie and Chilly, screaming their names, which I am sure didn’t help. I know I scared them. I tried to calmly call their names but nothing. I was aware that I didn’t have too much time. I grabbed their crates and their food and through them out on the porch. I HAD to go. I left the door open and moved car out of the way so the fire department could get in. I ran back home looking for the cats and grabbing more things filling bags with clothes, medication etc… At some point a group of men came running to the house and asked if I had water back there. I opened the gate and ran past me. They knew I was frantically looking for the cats and told me to keep searching for them. Again I was in the house this time I destroyed my bedroom turning over the bed (their favorite hiding place) but never found them. I had to leave for good now. I left the door open and prayed that they could get out and we could be reunited later. The women in the neighborhood pulled me aside and did their best to comfort me. They got me a chair and some water and said what they could to calm me down. They got me a chair and some water and reminded me to breath. Finally the fire crew arrived and I just got out of the way and hoped that they could put it out. The group of men retreated and I tried to hug each one that came out of the yard. I have no idea who any of them are; there was a man in a suit whose face I never saw. While all this craziness was going on, the wind was destroying the city. I had been able to call my parents who then called my sister who then called Paul and Joey (Zinnia peeps). Paul and Joey and Paul’s brother Mark headed in my direction and arrived with a fire extinguisher and offered hugs and comforting words. My dad had also arrived. After what seemed like forever but turned out to be about two hours a firefighter came out and said it would be okay. By 3:30am I was given the clearance to go in and was able to go back in the house. Chilly emerged soon after I came in but Louie was still in hiding. A few hours later I was able to find him. He was still freaked out, poor baby. It was over but it took me a while to relax. I didn’t sleep again until mid day on Thursday.

Friends I share this with you to share the acts of kindness that I experienced from my neighbors, my community. I have lived here for 11 years and only knew a few of them. Most of them had come running up the hill. Some had buckets, pots and water nozzles. I found a water hose in my yard and don’t know who it belongs to. Paul and Joey, you are my family and it touched me greatly that you came over to offer help. People are good. I am so lucky to be surrounded by people who care.

Please be safe and try to stay warm as we go into winter. Friends that live where it snows… how do you do that? Wow.

Live in color,

Suki