I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤

I’m especially grateful right now for the firefighters who work heroically to battle the monster fires in California.  My prayers and healing thoughts are — and will continue to be — with the 82 families in and around Paradise who lost loved ones and for the 700+ families whose loved ones are still missing.

My cousin Walter and his family lost everything in the Paradise “campfire.” Walter’s sister Joanne said that he and his wife heard a loud boom, ran out to see what it was, and suddenly they were running for their lives.  They got out and are both okay, but Walter had to be admitted to the hospital.  He’s on the mend.  Joanne started a GoFundMe campaign and support has been pouring in from all over.  Walter was overwhelmed by the response to her fundraiser, Joanne said, and by the kindness of friends and family.  Even people he never met have helped.

I have seen this response and outpouring of support since this all began all over.  It reminds me of this quote from Starman:

“You are a strange species. Not like any other. And you’d be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst.”

Our family has lost a lot to fire.  My grandfather lost his mother and sister.   My cousins Cindy and Bonnie (Walter’s sisters) died in a fire when they were 14 and 19.  Just a few weeks before she died, Cindy and I picked daisies in a sunny field covered with their bright blooms.  It was the last beautiful memory I have of her.  Cindy and I were the same age when she died.

I am thankful every day for our firefighters, police and military who put their lives on the line for strangers.  During this week of Thanksgiving, and especially during this heartbreaking time when so many of us have lost so much to the fires in California, I wanted to share this story and my gratitude.

♡. under1000skies
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