Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Governor

I'm embarrassed to admit that this fire is making me extremely anxious. But why should it? The fires aren't near us (so far). But people I know are being evacuated or are preparing to evacuate. And then I see these people smoking in the canyon and throwing lit cigarettes butts out of their car windows. Anything could ignite a blaze in this weather. The sky is hideously beautiful - thick brown and pink clouds hover around the glowing orange sun. It feels apocalyptic. And yes, I know these are fairy tales, I know "'tis the child that fears the painted devil" but today, Tuesday morning, everything feels very, very strange and very, very epic. I'm amused and somewhat assured to see our Governor on the Today show, talking about his relentless deptutizing. There are something like ten thousand people in the Qualcomm Dome in San Diego, and another few thousand in the Del Mar Race track stadium. They also have stabling for two thousand horses, Minks will be happy to know. It is a silly thing that in one's time of need, the Terminator, with his died auburn hair and his firm jaw, is actually someone who provides solace. It is the perfect storm here: very hot (100 degrees predicted today), very dry and very high winds. Al Roker says the Santa Anas will be diminishing late Wednesday into Thursday. A lot of burning can happen in two days. There are old people who have been displaced, mentally ill people, patients from hospitals, prison inmates and then there are the celebrities. It's quite a leveller, this fire.

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