California Burning....

A few nights ago, I fell asleep with the tv on in my room. I awoke around 3:30 out of a deep sleep and glanced at the tv screen. To my surprise, the headline on CNN read "Rancho Bernardo, San Diego in Flames"..... and my heart began to pound.

Years ago, I was in Japan when my sister bought her first home. It was nestled in a beautiful community called Rancho Bernardo, California. She had spent much of her adult life in San Diego making her place as a labor and delivery nurse and now it truly would become her home. As a little sister, I couldn't have been more proud of her. An ocean away, I looked at pictures of her big move, her exciting change, her beautiful home.

As I woke up out of my sleep, I ran to the computer to try and contact my family. My parents and little brother and his wife were all in San Diego for the weekend to participate in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in San Diego. Sure enough, they all had evacuated to Orange County, along with my middle brother and his fiance who also reside in San Diego. I was so relieved to know that everyone was safe. But the sinking feeling in my heart was overwhelming. I couldn't imagine the stress my family was experiencing. I imagined the thousands of people displaced. I wondered how they could deal with not knowing whether their homes were gone.... I thought about all of the animals.... I thought about the children who might be so scared and the elderly people who needed assistance....I thought about the many amazing memories I had with my sister in her house.... and I wanted to cry.

Living in Japan, I have experienced our nation and world's worst disasters through the tv screen. In 2001, I watched the World Trade Center attack live on CNN. I watched the terrible tsunami in 2004 in Southeast Asia. I watched as Hurricane Katrina approached and destroyed the Gulf Coast in 2005. In each instance, feeling so helpless, I cried for the loss of those I had never met. In all of these moments, I had never felt so far away from home and from my family.

As I sit at my desk, watching California burn, writing this blah-g, I realize YET AGAIN just how far away from home I really am. It becomes quite clear just how important family and friends are to me. I recognize that people's lives can change in an instant. I realize I don't want to feel so far away anymore........

My heart goes out to my sister and my brother as they wait for news on their homes. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the people affected by the California Wildfires.... I wish I could be home to help. -M