My head and heart are spinning right now. Sometimes, they don’t move at all. I look happy in the photo because my dear younger sister and youngest brother are with me. We, along with our older sister are a team. I just wish these two lived in my town. The “game” would be much easier. It really isn’t a game, though. Not when your mother is wasting away from cancer. I’m really so tired and in a daze. And I think this is just the beginning of the worst to come.
A week and a half ago, our red-haired boy was riding in a car driven by his best friend….down hill..curvy mountain road. That call came, thankfully from our boy, assuring me that he was “fine” but that there had been an accident. He had the strength and sensibility to spare me the awful details. Those came a bit later. The car went out of control (bad tires, fast driving). They crashed into a wall, flipped and rolled 3 times, stopping on their side (driver’s) and thankfully did NOT go over the edge down into wherever they’d have gone. I still get choked up when I see the skid mark and the big gash in that wall, and when I think of that night and then several days later when I was able to hug my boy’s best buddy, who miraculously survived.
Three nights later, (3:15 a.m.) our dog Kilo barked hysterically. Hubby made it to the front window in time to see a young man sitting in our Xterra. I spotted another one walking away from our dead car. They both walked out of our driveway as if they owned the place. Hubby called the cops who went out looking for the hoodlums before coming to our house to look at the cars and write their report. The guys were not caught. Other people in the area were also “hit”. All the dudes got from our cars was coin. Whew. We were stupid to have not locked them. Believe me, that has changed. Before that invasion, I had never gone to sleep. After the invasion, I didn’t sleep til 7a.m. and got up at 10. Cat nap.
This past weekend, there was a horrific fire in Yarnell and Peeple’s Valley that a storm blew out of control. Tragically, 19 firefighters died from the 20 member Granite Mountain Hotshot crew, based in our town. Yes, we knew one of them. Our oldest son knew 2 of them and our younger son knew 1. Our town has been deeply wounded.
As time goes on, I know there will be more tragedy. It’s a sign of the times. All I can say is how thankful I am for who is in my life and that no matter what, there’s always somebody who’s on the team to support with love and generosity and compassion.
