ar_wahan | View from close to the front lines

Yesterday I emailed a friend I've known since kindergarten when I read that the California fires were very near her area. She's a pharmacist at a big supermarket chain. Just got an email response moments ago:

We're all ok.

Yes, we're in an area near fire. [Husband] called me home from work yesterday when the neighborhood immediately east of us was evacuated. (I was working near an evacuation center in the south county where we were inundated by prescriptions being transferred in and out, new prescriptions being phoned in, requests from patients that we refill forgotten prescriptions or loan them a few days worth or contact their insurances for coverage of early refills, etc) I came home and packed but we've not had even a voluntary evacuation notice. The neighborhood east of us has very few access streets so was probably evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Today I'm off work. [Older daughter] and I drove over to her high school which is serving as an evacuation center and dropped off supplies. The rest of the day we just spent glued to the tv news. ([Husband] turns it on immediately in the morning.)

Tomorrow and Thursday I've got 12 hour shifts if the store isn't in an evacuated area. (I get exhausted working the 12 hour shifts and have a request in to be reduced to 8 hours shifts.)

Anyway, we're all fine. [Younger daughter] seems pleased that school is out for the remainder of the week but will soon be bored. The weather is hot, very dry, and we're asked to stay inside (lots of ash in the air) and to reduce electric use. (I guess some of the power plants have been effected.)

I am so grateful to have heard from her. This friend's mother died a year ago, and I sent my condolences by card and by email, but she's dropped out of touch. I'm glad they are all safe for now. Maybe now we will be better at staying in touch.