Please keep California in your thoughts

I'm not much for prayer requests usually, but I figured it wouldn't hurt, and might even help (a lot?), if folks reading here spent a minute sending good thoughts (and prayers, if they wanted) to all the many Californians touched by the raging wildfires down south.  Already, a quarter of a MILLION people have been evacuated from a huge area ranging from Malibu at the north end to near the Mexican border at the south end of our state.  Unbelievable.

My stepson Jeb (below), who will turn just 21 October 29, and who's a crew member for the Mt. Lassen HotShots (a division of the US Forest Service) has shipped south with his crew from the very northernmost part of California to assist the firefighting efforts.  While I admire and respect his efforts, I realize he's directly in harm's way, and I'm enormously worried about him -- as is my husband, naturally.  I'm not even sharing with Tim just how worried I am about Jeb.  These wildfires can turn on a dime without notice, and it's these exact scenarios where you sometimes hear that ten firemen have lost their lives, after being trapped by a sudden change of direction in the flames.

My friend Laura and my sister Chanda, and their families, both of whom are in the San Diego area, are completely packed and ready to evacuate on a moment's notice.  And my friend Lysa, whose beautiful home is on a hilltop in Poway, and whom I cannot reach, may have already lost her family's home; Poway is said to be a glowing ember in many places, at this point.  Given that, at 41, she's already a two-time cancer survivor, I can't tell you how much this possibility breaks my heart.

Please keep California in your thoughts!  These are said to be the worst wildfires in state history, and the Santa Ana winds show no signs of slacking off.  With gusts at 50mph on occasion, it's just an extremely, extraordinarily dangerous situation, with embers flying everywhere, any way you slice it.

With gratitude for your positive thoughts,
Shel

Clickable version of map shown above is at CNN.com.

(also posted at Teddy Talk)

Comments

[Veronica]

Aww Shell...what a crappy situation for so many. Read this on the news today..and now seeing the pics... I am sending you a hug too...

I am probably more sensitive emotionally today as I heard last night that my little brother is having heart trouble and after tests they think he may have already had some heart attacks. It is a sad day all around us.....

[Shel]

Vee, I emailed you. Thanks for your support!

[Kelly]

I hope your family and friends will be ok!