MALIBU, December 10, 2024
Maybe one day in the grass green sky…
But not today.
Last night, or was it this morning? Knock Knock Knock on my door and ‘mandatory evacuation’ staring me in the face. Wait a minute. Where are we? What year is this? I’ve already done this.
Hurricane Hugo, thirty-five years ago. My daughters were young, we were living a few blocks from the ocean on Sullivans Island and a uniformed man stood before us, same words, and off we drove, golden retriever and rabbit and all, singing Jingle Bells to make light of whatever this was and being open to the changes that it would bring.
And now. No daughters in sight, no four-legged fur children, just me. And there, right over there, brilliant orange and red fire shooting into the sky with massive billowing black clouds pulsing, breathing, threatening and nature is doing its cleaning ‘thing’ again.
Oh my God.
SO, no electricity, total darkness and where is that list I concocted about earthquake preparedness and running? Who knows and nevermind. Computer. phone, passport, meds, a few clothes, and spontaneous grabbing of thises and thats and out the door into my car. Am I dressed? Somewhere in there I managed that.
Down PCH to Santa Monica…I will head for the beach…fire engines and police cars screaming by in the opposite direction, and then my destination is in sight, but OH, WAIT A MINUTE…no other parked cars around and lots of homeless bundled people sleeping and meandering. Change of plans.
Gelsons (as in grocery store) parking lot. I parked and realized that I was shaking all over.
Enter MY ANGELS. A fim maker friend, in the throws of his last edit, habitually works before dawn, and he had a deadline today…so I called him.
Unbelievable generosity and selflessness. “Oh MY GOD, YES!!!! Come over right now!!!! What can I do for you? What do you need?”
The incredible beauty and healing of the human voice. I cried and drove and I stood in the shower and thanked the water for calming me down and washing away my upset.
I called three close friends on the east coast and Mexico and every single one, jumped in with warmth and love.
And now I am cozied in a soft comforter on a bed on Mount Washington (yes, in LA) in a cottage that belongs to another angel. I am disappeared from my world while it burns and decides what its doing and if it indeed tit is to continue being MY world or if I need ONCE AGAIN to ceate a new plan. But for this moment, safe and sheltered.
Who would we be without our friends? Who would we be?
One day in the grass green sky we shall all picnic and share tales of life on earth and revel in each other.
Goodnight all.