Chico and Paradise

[gracegiver]

Ky and I drove to Chico yesterday and picked up flying_blind and visited numerous local animal shelters, hoping that we may find one if not more of his missing cats, lost in the Camp Fire in Paradise CA. No such luck, though. At the first shelter, we were greeted by a very patient and helpful staff member, Julie, who then researched each cat that Joe thought

Comments

[sweetmeow]

Thank you so much for taking the time to give Joe a ride, both to Paradise where his house was, and to shelters to see if any kitties are his. I wish I lived out there so I could do it - and do it often. Well -- you know me and cats. I hold my cats often and think of his. But - really - the entire thing breaks my heart. I cannot fathom the devastation and both personal and collective loss.

I clicked on each picture and saw that you had one more up there you didn't post of buds sprouting. I'll name that photo "Life Wins"

[gracegiver]

Ah, yes - I thought of posting Life Wins. Thank you for the reminder.

[kishenehn]

What an extraordinarily poignant day. I can't even begin to imagine how I'd cope if my life were upended like that ...

[gracegiver]

sigh - no kidding.

[creactivity]

The thought of losing everything is overwhelming.

[pinkroo]

An old friend, Natalie, grew up there. I keep thinking about how terrible and surreal it would be to have your entire hometown wiped away.

It must be some of how it felt to drive in the 9th Ward, after Katrina. No one spoke, we just looked and cried.

[flying_blind]

That yard will be loaded with plants in a few months. I'm sure the gladiolus bulbs survived underground, and the seeds of the lupines and other wildflowers. And the dandelions and nettles and other such persistent plants will undoubtedly come back. But I think the sour grass (violet wood sorrel) that grew by the font window is probably finished, having been buried under debris. It had been looking very healthy just before the fire, too.

Thanks again for the visit, and the ride, and lunch, and the books, and all the other things you've given me (and especially this computer with a monitor I can actually see!) And please give my apologies to the kitties for any part I played in delaying their dinner.

[gracegiver]

It was challenging for both Ky and I to visit the shelters - so many animals in cages.

If (and when) you decide to adopt a cat, let us know, we'll come up and help you and your new roomie to settle in.

[flying_blind]

It was very sad seeing all those kitties (and dogs) in the shelters, especially knowing that they lost their homes three months ago and they still haven't been reclaimed. Still, I'm grateful that I got to go look at the shelters. I will let you know if I decide to adopt, but given my track record it seems likely that some stray will show up at my door soon enough and insist on moving in. That's happened four times before. Perhaps aliens (feline, of course) kidnapped me and implanted some sort of cat beacon in my head.