I don’t even know how to begin. My hometown Paradise, CA. A place that never leaves my heart and where family still dwells. My heart goes out to all of you that live there and those of you that are helping and serving. I am still in shock and unbelief weeks later. So much devastation and destruction. It’s a nightmare that became reality. I don’t want to focus on the negative even though that is all I can think of when my eyes see all that nothingness throughout the town. It has been weeks since it started and the Paradise post mentions that “A total of 13,696 single-family homes, 276 multi-family residences and 514 commercial buildings have been destroyed by the fire that started Nov. 8 off Camp Creek Road near Pulga in the Feather River Canyon. 153,336 acres have burned, at least 85 people died, and 296 are listed as unaccounted.” My heart goes out to all those people from the area that had to go through this experience. I can’t even imagine how it was, but my heart is with you and those kind enough to serve and help in the area. I do truly wish I could be there to help my family and anyone compacted by this tragedy.
Growing up in Paradise was good. I loved playing in my backyard in honey run creek catching bugs or looking at the dragon flies pass by. Playing in the “trails” making forts or tree lookouts with friends. The fun of shooting BB guns and home made blow guns in our backyard. Seeing deer pass through or stop by to eat our flowers. Riding bikes all over town with no sidewalks and going so fast down those hills. Going back up not so fun, but all good times. Walking pretty far to friends houses or even to the grocery store. Never any room for boredom or maybe boredom helped create fun like slicing through water filled soda cans with swords. I’m sure my friends and I remember good times like those. Really it was a great place to grow up. I’ve never been able to create the same type of environment for my kids unfortunately.
I and all fellow Paradisians will have an attachment to the town even after we leave. Memories are what we take with us, I’m glad that my family made it out safe even if there is nothing to return to. We still can hang onto our rich memories that will stay with us forever. With love…
The is where I grew up. Totally destroyed all but memories.
Photo credit goes to whomever took the picture for the active destruction map of the Camp Fire that started on Nov. 8th, 2018