Community

On September 9, at about 5:30 p.m., a bus carrying 54 children caught on fire. The children in grades ranging from elementary to high school were part of a singing group from Palo Alto, and were traveling to Santa Cruz.

I look out my window and see deep pink, ruffled flowers covering my Blireiana flowering plum. It's one of my favorite early spring-blooming plants, and those fragrant blossoms are strong enough to scent my garden.

The view of the ocean from where I am staying is beautiful. I can hear the waves crashing on the shore and a part of me wants to go play in the water. But I can’t get my mind off of the fact that my house might be burning down as I enjoy the view. My kids are the forth generation to live on the property and we might very well be losing everything except what’s in the three cars packed feverishly while the flames appeared on the tree-line in Ben Lomond. It’s the waiting to hear bad or good news that is so difficult.

Last Friday, June 7, about 700 people—550 on-site and 150 by live streaming—joined together to laugh, to cry and to honor the too short but incredibly loving life of Milo Anima. The Celebration of Life, entitled “Milo was Meant for the Stage,” was held at...