Wednesday Morning: hope can be exhausting (Rebel Girl; fire news)

Chunk has checked in - please see his report below. Do say hello if you wish - it's nice to get your hellos and well wishes.

Modjeska neighbor, friend, newlywed and journalist Janet Wilson updates her report in the online edition of the LA Times. She SAW her house yesterday afternoon (the power of press credentials!). It is clear to Red Emma and Rebel Girl, that, unlike Janet, most journalists, especially television journalists, don't know where they are when they report and do not understand the geography of, say, a canyon. Take Modjeska for instance. It appears that they stand at the meandering mouth of the canyon and think that what they see is the total sum of the canyon. We will know more this morning as aerial views of the area begin to show on TV. Our friend and lawyer Bob M. points out that there have been no reports of a loss of the fire station which is down the hill from our house and across from Arden. Our house is located directly behind Arden, the landmark house of Madame Modjeska which was designed by noted architect Stanford White over a century ago. It has survived many fires.

A report this morning from friend and fire watch volunteer Linda aka Canyon Gal, a Silverado resident and sometime IVC student, who is currently hunkered down at the El Modena shelter. She reports that she knows that the fire in Silverado has burnt in the areas of the stables and the first fire station. She doesn't know for certain about any loss of structures. Rebel Girl knows that Lewis L. has six horses in those stables - she hopes that, like most large animals, they were transported out early.

This morning, Rebel Girl notices a slight shift difference between her tone of voice when she writes and when she talks on the telephone. Her voice here on the blog doesn't crack but when she's on the phone it does; it cracks and drops. She has to swallow hard and pull it back up. She wants to blame the smoke, her week-old chest cold that still lingers. But she thinks it has to do with other factors as well. No single causes here. Someone yesterday accused her of being brave. It's easier for Rebel Girl to be brave perhaps with the written word as opposed to the spoken word. There is that discrepancy between who she is on paper and who she is when she speaks, when she just is. She has long contended that she is at her best on paper.

Rebel Girl can hear her son laughing in the next room, a rippling joyful sound. Morning cartoons. Sponge Bob Squarepants. He is stretched out on the big couch, tummy down, face forward, propping up his head with his hands. He is happy.

Word just arrived that Modjeska residents with ID will be allowed back in today. Red Emma has left to take our friend Mary to work and then he will go to our home to see what he can see.

Rebel Girl is finding that hope can be exhausting.

That said, good luck to all of us. Why not.