The news is dire. By all reports my entire neighborhood is gone, including my house and both Patrick Montgrain's mom and sister's houses. I had spoken to his mom earlier in the day and we had all figured it was just wildfire business as usual. It wasn't. I don't know where Kate and Eileen went, I'll guess to wherever Maureen lives.
I am currently sitting on a cot on a westwood basketball court with refugees from Palisades and Santa Monica. Puff is currently snoozing in her folding crate next to me. I've found one person I know. Puff is incredibly popular, having a schmoozefest, Chiq-fil-a, and a wonderful adventure.
Several friends have been very helpful but in the end it's all a confusing mess. I have been hoping for Red Cross' "case workers" to show up to help me find a place to stay but no luck yet in the past three days. I am sore and aching, mostly from the cot, exhausted, and overwhelmed. I haven't slept on a cot since I was a little kid staying weekends at my dads!
But if nothing else, I don't have to worry about the bad plumbing anymore, I"ve been interviewed for several papers incl NYT and Asahi Shimbun (Japan), and met some really interesting people. There's defintely a "we're all in this together" vibe. As I typed this someone asked if they could give Puff some pepperoni.
They are feeding us well and constantly checking in on what we might need. Want a pretzel? Here. How about a towel? I have a new sweater and a pair of shoes that should fit.
It seems I have lost almost everything, but not quite!!❤