Now, I bet at least some of you know about the Tea-Fire that happened in Santa Barbara, CA, on November 13 of 2008. Our house got unlucky and got burnt down. We lived on Conejo Road and I still remember that day like it was yesterday. It all started after dinner (I had mac-n-cheese). I went over to our big window overlooking the canyon. I saw a little fire-colored speck and said, “Look Daddy, there is a fire!” My dad looked at where I was pointing and said, “It is just headlights Madison. Relax.” I said, “No, it IS a fire.” After watching the speck grow for a while more, and my dad eventually agreed and decided to pack up.
We had two cats and still have them to this day. They were really helpful and stayed close, sensing something was up as we hurried to pack up and leave. My emotions at this time were fear, worry, and tons of other emotions. But mostly fear for us, me, my brother, my dad and my cats, and worry for my mother, she was driving home from work. While my dad packed our bags and cleaned up my one-year-old brother, I stood with my favorite stuffed animal, hoping that we would be ok. Then my mom got home and kept packing while my dad got the cats packed up and ready to go. The fire was really close now, I was terrified. Eventually, my mom, brother and I, left in one car while my dad stayed to pack up some last-minute stuff and the cats. He later informed us that he left so close to the fire, he could feel the heat coming off it. Luckily, my father is ok, but my mother’s wedding dress and photos were not so lucky, they got burnt down with everything else we had left behind.
I hope you all enjoyed my starter story. Enjoy!
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