We never saw this one coming. We are always very careful. Anyway, the fire started on a dresser in the master bedroom because of a faulty lamp. That was it! It burned that area and into the dining room, and melted a bathroom. The heat went around the corner of a wall and fried everything in its path, including spices 2 rooms a way in the kitchen! Impressive.
It is a 100 year old Tudor in the redwoods and very lovely. We loved living there, and miss it terribly, but we go back every day to feed chickens, to garden, etc. It is on 3/4 an acre and has nice old gardens and redwood trees, very quiet. It is a balm of sorts.
The worst was losing our animal friends. Since the fire we have lost 7 animals-including 4 parrots who were in the house and knowing they had to go through it makes it worse. They died instantly, but we weren't there.
They were very much a part of the family. Louis, my husband, had one of them in his family since he was in high school! She was over 50 and a joy. They all were. Our older dog Beau, who was in the house during the fire and tramatized, never recovered and died last month. We know now what it feels like to be on the other side of haunted eyes.
Relealizing the brunt of the new reality is a very slow process and multi-layered in loss, grief and shock. But people around us for the most part, have been excellent and wonderful; one neighbor single handedly drove to tell the fire department that there was a fire (911 wouldn't work on the cel phone...that MUST be fixed...ridicules) and then came back to rescue animals. Luckily the fire department in Guerneville is close by and excellent. Other neighbors offered us a cabin across the street from our house the first three weeks...a Godsend and blessing! Our other neighbors help move and rescue other animlas and birds. Then people at El Molino chipped and raised over $1000 to help me buy new clothes...mine were all lost in the fire, and I am a clothes collector. My closest friends found little things that created normalcy for me: blue wine glasses, a red hooded coat, jewelry, moisturizer, pictures, etc...everyday things that were suddenly so cherished. Family chipped in with cash cards and help. Strangers offered kindness and comfort. They all helped soften the blow and sudden shock of not having anything that was part of your internal routine. Gone in an instant-you are left looking at the remains of your old life of just 8 hours ago. Yet you must, must MUST move on...
