I got off the ferry at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island with my sister back in 2014. It was the day before 9/11 and we were visiting a family friend who used to live across the street from us. The next morning, we walked to the downtown area and found ourselves immersed in a memorial parade commemorating the 3rd anniversary of that terrible day - 9/11/2001.  We certainly didn’t expect to see a full-on memorial parade complete with marching band, bagpiper, banners, American flags and finally taps being played mournfully by a lone bugler. We had tears in our eyes. A couple weeks ago I came across the digital photos and videos I captured of that moving day. I don’t have them now as the original CD was burned in the fire. I will always have that day’s experience captured in my mind, though. Later that day my sister and I visited Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Seemed fitting to walk among soothing lavender fields. Spread over 25 acres with lake and Olympic Mountain views it is lovely. The fragrance from the oil of the lavender plant is believed to help promote calmness and wellness, reduce stress and anxiety - a good thing on a sad day.  For years when my sister was still here, we visited many islands in Puget sound touring destination nurseries and public gardens. Roche Harbor is a picturesque sheltered harbor on the northwest side of San Juan Island and this was our next stop on 9/11. This harbor is world all its own. Exploring the historic Hotel de Haro we walked among the blooming perennial beds. It was drizzling by then making the colors of the flowers pop even brighter. So many beautiful perennials - roses, anemone, heliotrope, tibouchina intertwined with coleus and lime sweet potato vine. Lovely. Even the Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Co. which dates back to the 1880’s and is now a tourist destination is landscaped beautifully. All in all, that day on September 11, 2004 will always be etched in my memory. It was a day to remember.    

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), also known as lipoic acid is a vitamin-like antioxidant referred to as the "universal antioxidant" because it has the unique attribute of being both fat and water-soluble.

I have never felt closer to my San Lorenzo Valley community than I do now, because of the fire. Our home, neighborhood, and most of our town of Ben Lomond were spared from the fire thanks to our Ben Lomond Volunteer Fire Department and the thousands of other firefighters and citizens. Since the day we evacuated and ever since returning home, I have been glued to several FaceBook groups in our valley. We are strangers really, but united in this tragedy. I welcome those home who have a home, I get anxious with those who are not yet able to return home, and I cry with those who have lost their homes.

Tuesday night my partner received an alert on her phone that Boulder Creek was getting evacuated, the fire was spreading and from that point on is when everything took a turn for the worst. Coming from the Bay Area of San Jose and moving to Felton has all been very new territory and uncommon experiences from what I’m used to. Being evacuated from my home has been an experience I never thought I’d have to encounter. Emotions have been high, feelings of uncertainty, fear, and possible loss of my home have been running through me in waves this past week.

August 2020

  “I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor.  Do you know your next-door neighbor?” 

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.

For many years, our primary concern in the heavily forested San Lorenzo Valley and North Coast areas has been the threat of catastrophic wildfire. By bolstering our firefighting agencies, educating our residents, and establishing fire breaks, we have made huge strides in prevention and preparation in recent years –– all of which made an enormous difference on August 16 when the CZU Lightning Complex roared into existence.